Told Not To Lay Wreaths

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31043, 26 April 1966, Page 17

Told Not To Lay Wreaths

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MELBOURNE, April 25. Women from the “Save Our Sons” anticonscription organisation were stopped from placing wreaths on the Shrine of Remembrance before the Anzac Day ceremony today. Before the ceremony began, about 20 women wearing white sashes with “5.0.5.” on them, stood on the footpath approach. Each carried a posy and a card.

The deputy-chairman of the shrine trustees, Colonel A. N. Kemsley, walked over to the women from the forecourt and told them that wreaths from their organisation would not be permitted in the shrine. Asked why he had given this ruling, Colonel Kemsley replied, “that’s perfectly obvious, isn't it?” Mrs V. Ames, of Beaumaris, one of the women, said, “we are having a silent vigil today to pay tribute to those who died for peace. We are here to honour the dead.” After Colonel Kemsley spoke to the women, Mrs Ames said she and other members of the organisation had laid wreaths in the shrine on Armistice Day.

“On Armistice Day we removed our sashes before we went into the shrine and we intended removing them today,” she said. “But as we have been told our wreaths are not permitted, we will not attempt to lay them inside the shrine.” One of the women said war widows were in their groups at the shrine today. After the service a woman asked the police if they could place the flowers at the foot of the Second World War Memorial. Police said they could, if they removed their sashes. The women did so, filed to the memorial and laid their flowers as the police watched. They stood for a moment in silence, then walked away.