Most public events surrounding ANZAC Day in the Hawkesbury for 2020 have been cancelled following new laws implemented by the Federal Government to combat COVID-19 (coronavirus).
Initially major events hosted by venues such as Richmond Club and Windsor RSL were planning to have smaller ANZAC Day services and events with reduced numbers in attendance, following the guidelines of gatherings with no more than 500 people outside and 100 people inside.
Richmond Club had cancelled their marquee on the bowling greens, where they host two-up, but were continuing on with controlled and balanced attendance, with a heightened concentration on hygiene.
Unfortunately, Sunday's announcement from the Federal Government on the closures of pubs, clubs and other venues, has led the Richmond Club and Windsor RSL to close until further notice.
Richmond Club's Chief Executive Officer Kimberley Talbot said that the club are not currently working towards holding an event for ANZAC Day this year.
"No we won't be," she said. "We haven't really had time to make a decision ... if we do it'll be a private service."
"We have no ability to hold something outside with the restrictions on the number of people allowed.
"But more than likely we will have a small private service."
David Ingram from the Windsor RSL Sub-Branch said that they are also not doing anything for ANZAC Day.
"No type of ceremony ... nothing at all," he said. "Some larger sub-branches are planning small private ceremonies that they'll live stream but we won't be doing anything like that.
"There's only so much we can do ... we don't have the facilities to do it and many of our patrons are older making them high risk.
"I hope we can do it next year and get everyone back."
Richmond RSL has also been impacted by the Government's decision.
Richmond RSL Publicity Officer Lynette Bowles said: "Richmond RSL Sub-branch will not be commemorating ANZAC Day 2020 due to the COVID-19 infection risk to its ageing veterans".
With the cancellation of public ANZAC Day events across the country, people are being encouraged to commemorate the ANZAC's in another way.
One idea that has gained traction on social media is calling for people to go to the ends of their driveways at 6 am on Saturday, April 25 and hold a minute silence, trying to find a different way to commemorate and honour the ANZAC's, and the rest of the nations armed forces.