A Queensland man has divided thousands of Australians for claiming people who fail to attend a dawn service should not be allowed into the pub on Anzac Day.
Many agreed with the criticism of people for using a sad day of remembrance to go drinking with friends.
But others said people should be allowed to pay their respects in whatever way suits them and criticized the man for being “disrespectful” for pulling out his phone during the minute’s silence set aside to remember the Anzacs.
“If you’re not awake for the dawn service you’re not welcome in the pub later, end of story,” the man wrote on a TikTok video of the sun rising over a dawn service in Redcliffe.
“One morning of the year, Australians,” he captioned the clip, which quickly racked up more than 221,000 views and hundreds of comments.
A Brisbane man has caused a stir after claiming those who do not attend the dawn service should not be allowed to go to the pub on Anzac Day.
‘I’ve just finished a 13-hour night shift and my entire mine is heading to early morning duty. There is no excuse,” agreed one viewer.
‘I think everyone should go unless they have a real reason like an illness or something. I will attend dawn and day services out of respect for my great-grandfather. Lest we forget,” he wrote a second.
“Thank you, someone said it,” another replied and someone added: “I went this morning in the pouring rain, even my little sister got up and she’s crooked like a dog.”
Many came to the defense of those who did not attend dawn services.
‘I’m sorry, but my newborn baby comes first. “I’ll pay my respects, but I can’t exactly attend the dawn service with a screaming baby,” one mother said.
‘What if I told you that you can still show respect when you’re not at a dawn service? And including anyone at any time is the AUSTRALIAN way!’ another hit back.
“Maybe some of us work 6-5 all week so we’ll pay our respects later in the day,” one user explained while someone else chimed in: “I finished work at 12 last night, give me a break.”
Some took issue with the man taking videos on his phone while The Last Post was playing.
“This guy holds his phone up during dawn service like he’s on Foo Fighters,” one person complained.
‘What’s up with disrespectful people like this who have their phone out to film all the time, just to say they went?’ asked another.
“Recording during the last post: classy,” one viewer joked.
‘What if we are only going to make content for social networks? Are we still allowed in the pub? another joked.