Fed: RSL head pours cold water on Anzac march proposal

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Fed: RSL head pours cold water on Anzac march proposal

CANBERRA, April 22 AAP - The head of the RSL has poured cold water on suggestions allchildren should be encouraged to take part in Anzac marches to keep the spirit of AnzacDay alive.

RSL national president Major-General Peter Phillips yesterday told a newspaper allchildren should have the right to march regardless of whether they were the descendantsof veterans or their ethnic origins.

But he later said while the RSL's top priority was to involve and educate more youngpeople in the Anzac tradition, he did not support unhindered access to the official parade.

General Phillips said the RSL wanted only to preserve the values of freedom and honourfor which Australian servicemen and women lost their lives.

But it would be impossible to open the door to every child who wanted to march on AnzacDay, he said, warning annual marches in Sydney and Melbourne were already constrainedby size.

Queensland's RSL Clubs Association president Tony Stokes earlier supported moves toallow all children to march on Anzac Day, but said they could be premature.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said he respected the RSL's views and called for morepublic debate on how best to involve children in the Anzac tradition.

AAP rft/mg/sb

KEYWORD: ANZAC DAYLEAD