IT'S another day on the calendar that could easily be forgotten in 2020 if it wasn't for the likes of Maurie Keating and Suzanne Jordan.
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With Remembrance Day just days away, the Ballarat sub-branch of the RSL is bracing itself for a lack of funds due to the inability to sell poppies across the city.
With pandemic restrictions still in place, many elderly volunteers are simply unable to to sit in shopping malls to sell the poppies, which annually raised about $4000 for veterans and their families.
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Mr Keating is hoping that local businesses will pick up the slack this year and agree to sell poppies in their stores, to assist many elderly residents doing it tougher than ever before.
"We're not expecting anything like what we normally make at this time of the year, we've only got boxes in shops and we'd love to get more involved if we could," Mr Keating said.
"It is a very difficult year, we've still got some funds available, but nothing like we normally have, we'll probably have to dip into our own funds from memberships to help out. We won't let our veterans down.
"The health and well-being of these volunteers is of the utmost importance and to that end, changes have had to be implemented as to how/where badges and poppies can be purchased."
Mr Keating said this year's Remembrance Day service would also be a toned down affair with the inability to use the cenotaph for a public gathering.
"Our plan to have a small service at the RSL at the Midland Gold Club, but that will only be for invited guests," he said.
Any business that wishes to support the RSL in selling poppies, can do so by calling appeals officer, Suzanne Jordan on 0423 179 766 to register your interest or phone the RSL office on 5332 3300 for more information.
