This weekend across the country, thousands of people will attend football matches in stadiums as the NRL season gets underway.
The same will happen as AFL gets underway next week.
With that in mind it would have been rather jarring in the community had there not been a relaxation on regulations around Anzac Day services later next month.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison got wind of requirements which had been placed on the NSW RSL restricting the Sydney march to just 500 people.
Within hours, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard had passed an exemption allowing 5000 people to march and by yesterday Police Minister David Elliot said that capacity could be doubled.
It's amazing what politics can do isn't it.
The rethink has prompted a review locally and it is not hoped a more "normal" Anzac Day may be possible across the Hunter.
Newcastle Anzac Day organising committee convenor Ken Fayle said organisers were waiting for official confirmation from RSL NSW about the new restrictions, but the new limit could mean a march is held before the 10am service in Civic Park.
Maitland RSL sub-branch vice president Graham Solomons previously told the Newcastle Herald a march was "up in the air", but said yesterday at this stage it would go ahead on a smaller scale than previous years.
It is understandable why there may have been some reluctance from health authorities around Anzac Day. Many of the participants fall into the most at risk age categories and the vaccine is only slowly making its way around the country.
Yet given the ceremonies are in outdoor settings, cases of COVID-19 across the country are almost at a standstill and restrictions on even pubs are being lifted, there was a strong case to be made for Anzac Day.
How the country marked Anzac Day last year was incredible.
There were neighbourhood ceremonies and people rose to stand with candles in silent tribute in their driveways.
In itself it was an incredibly moving gesture.
Yet if we are in a position where the community can safely recognise the significance of the day, then we should.
If you can go to the footy on that day, our veterans should be able to come together and have the country recognise their service appropriately.
