G20 keeps numbers down at Brisbane Remembrance Day ceremony Though poppy sales were down in the inner-city, RSL Queensland chairman Terry Meehan said more people were buying online. Photo: Ryan Remiorz The crowds were down, but the solemn reflection remained as poignant as ever during Brisbane's main Remembrance Day commemoration at Anzac Square on Tuesday. The impending G20 summit, with the associated visible heavy security throughout the declared security zone in the CBD saw the attendance drop to between 800 and 1000, from the 2000 who attended last year. But organisers were not surprised, having spent the lead-up to Remembrance Day urging people to attend suburban and regional ceremonies instead. The customary minute's silence at 11am, to mark the time World War I hostilities finally ended on November 11, 1918, was impeccably observed. Whether by design or circumstance, even the ever-present sound of the police helicopter, which was hovering overhead on G20 duty, was out of ear-shot during the solemn observance. RSL Queensland chairman Terry Meehan, a Vietnam veteran, said Remembrance Day was "very significant" to him and other veterans who survived conflicts abroad. "My grandfather served in World War I, my father was killed in Korea, so I come from a long, long family of military service," he said. ..."But I think what's uppermost in my mind today is the current generation, the younger men and women who have come home from Afghanistan and the Middle East and those who are now heading back to the Middle East." Mr Meehan conceded the numbers were down, but said that was "to be expected." "We've got the G20 coming up, we've got the refurbishment of Anzac Square - which will be done by Anzac Day 2015, I assure you - and we were expecting numbers to be down a little bit," he said. But it's very, very pleasing as I walk around the streets to see the number of people who are wearing poppies and acknowledge us as we walk past - not only me, but the young people (veterans of recent conflicts in the Middle East). The RSL's main fundraising outlet, the sale of red poppies on Anzac and Remembrance days, was still going strong despite the CBD disruptions, Mr Meehan said. "We've asked members of the public to attend services right across the metropolitan area and in the rural and country remote areas, because a lot of them do travel to the city on this particular day," he said. So, yes, the poppy sales will be down but people have been making a contribution online. Those who would normally buy their poppies from our badge sellers are going online. That was certainly appreciated by Robert Layton, a former 6RAR private who served on two tours of duty to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2012. "It's always greatly appreciated, every fundraiser," he said. It helps the families, it helps people cope and get along with life and it's so much appreciated for everyone. Mr Layton was emotional as he remembered his fallen comrades at Anzac Square. "It takes me back to when I served overseas, to reflect back on the boys I lost," he said. ..."I've lost so many lads to either suicide or killed in action, so it's a big event for me." Another young veteran, Leading Aircraftman Matthew Mack, proudly wore his service medals as he paid tribute to those who fell in the name of their country. "I guess we're pretty lucky to be able to stand out here and remember all the people who have fought for the freedom we have today," he said. Donations to the RSL Red Poppy Appeal can be made online at www.rslpoppyappeal.org.