Qld: Veterans behind Powderfinger Anzac Day concert

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2007
Qld: Veterans behind Powderfinger Anzac Day concert

By Jessica Marszalek

BRISBANE, April 10 AAP - War veterans have thrown their support behind a rock concert
to be staged following an Anzac Day dawn service on the Gold Coast, saying it is a celebration
of the freedom they fought for.

The Queensland Returned and Services League (RSL) has given the green light to the
beach gig by the award-winning Brisbane rock band, Powderfinger, which is expected to
attract thousands to the dawn and midday services.

The concert, the band's first in more than two years, will be telecast live on the
Seven Network's Sunrise program and will help raise funds for the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary's
animal hospital.

In 2005, a controversial plan to have singer John Farnham perform at the 90th anniversary
Anzac service in Gallipoli, Turkey, was vetoed after a furore over its inconsistency with
the solemnity of the occasion.

But Currumbin and Palm Beach RSL president Ron Workman said not one single complaint
had been received from veterans about the Powderfinger gig, which is being called a "freedom
concert".

"I think possibly the biggest issue that people have to remember is that Anzac Day
is our national day of remembrance and - in the last century - tyranny, depression and
terrorism have been a significant aspect against freedom," Mr Workman said today.

"We're in a world where our children can play without fear, we're in a world where
our children can go to the beach without fear. So to me, to go to a benefit concert without
fear to raise funds for Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for the retention of our Australian
wildlife heritage, goodness me, if anyone's got any complaints about that it's quite sad.

"It's been very well applauded which is good ... I feel quite comfortable."

He said more than 8,000 people were expected to attend the dawn service and "a lot
of people" to attend the concert.

But despite veterans supporting the Powderfinger concert, many had never heard of the
internationally successful rock band.

"I'm led to believe they've been acknowledged as one of the best bands over many, many
years," Mr Workman said.

"I'm an old fart, (but) a young old fart."

AAP jmm/pjo/srp/de

KEYWORD: ANZAC POWDERFINGER

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