The Australian War Memorial (AWM) says it will consider complaints about the religious dominance of its Anzac Day Dawn Service when it comes to planning for next year’s event.

However, the head of the AWM, Matt Anderson, has told the Rationalist Society of Australia (RSA) that “traditions move slowly”.

In early May, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman wrote to Mr Anderson and veterans affairs minister Matt Keogh to express the RSA’s disappointment that this year’s Dawn Service was again dominated by the traditions of one religion – Christianity.

Mr Gladman noted that the Order of Service featured several acts of Christian worship, including Christian hymns, a Christian dedication and benediction, and the Lord’s Prayer – all presided over by a Christian chaplain.

He argued that the service should be welcoming to all people and reflective of our modern, diverse country and Defence Force – with the majority of currently serving personnel being not religious.

“What is the rationale for the Australian War Memorial requiring that only Christian acts of worship and only Christian ministers feature in the Dawn Service? Is this practice required by any relevant law, regulation or government directive?” wrote Mr Gladman.

“Which stakeholders from Defence and the wider community did the Australian War Memorial consult with regarding developing the Order of Service for this year’s Dawn Service?”

In response (see letter below), Mr Anderson said the AWM continued to work with the ACT Returned Services League to deliver a commemorative event that was “relevant and meaningful to veterans and their families and attendees”.

“This includes considering feedback from many different perspectives and I appreciate you taking the time to provide yours,” he wrote.

“It will be considered in our planning for future events, but as I’m sure you can appreciate, traditions move slowly. We are very conscious that the many guests who continue to attend Dawn Service provide positive feedback.”

Mr Gladman had pointed out that the AWM’s own Corporate Plan 2023-27 identified as a ‘strategic risk’ to the memorial’s goal of ensuring ongoing relevance to the nation commemorations that “don’t meet community expectations or deliver social values in line with public expectations.”

“We are deeply concerned that the dominance of one religion in what is the nation’s most important day of commemoration risks alienating many people and turning many people away, especially veterans and current service personnel,” wrote Mr Gladman.

“We urge the Australian War Memorial to move to inclusive and secular commemorations that reflect the reality of the non-religious and religious diversity of the Australian public, Defence Force and veteran community.

“Such a reform would not necessarily mean removing religion completely, but would ensure that commemorations would not be dominated by one religious worldview. It would also open the door for more meaningful and creative ways – including, for example, storytelling, poetry or music – to reflect on the importance of Anzac Day to our nation.”

The Rationalist Society of Australia is actively lobbying and advocating for secular reform of the Defence Force. See the latest updates here.

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Si Gladman is Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. He also hosts ‘The Secular Agenda’ podcast.

Photo by Hannah on Flickr (CC)

Australian War Memorial letter to Rationalist Society of Australia, 17 June, 2024

Dear Mr Gladman,

Thank you for your correspondence dated 7 May 2024 in relation to the Anzac Day Dawn Service.

As per our response to your organisation last year, the Memorial hosts the Dawn Service on behalf of the ACT Returned Services League. We continue to work with this important stakeholder to deliver a commemorative event that is relevant and meaningful to veterans and their families and attendees.

This includes considering feedback from many different perspectives and I appreciate you taking the time to provide yours. It will be considered in our planning for future events, but as I’m sure you can appreciate, traditions move slowly. We are very conscious that the many guests who continue to attend Dawn Service provide positive feedback.

The most important element of the Dawn Service, as with any commemoration is the opportunity for guests to reflect; on their own experiences and those of the service personnel we honour on that day.

Thank you again for your feedback.

Matt Anderson

Director, Australian War Memorial