Fiery debate erupts as woman is pictured doing a SHOEY at a wild Anzac Day party as commemorations turn rowdy
Anzac Day commemorations turned rowdy on Tuesday as Australians poured into pubs and clubs after a long day that began with the traditional dawn service.
Thousands of punters flocked to the pub for a traditional game of two-up and to share a drink with mates.
The Royal Hotel Paddington, in Sydney’s east, was packed from 9am, as it hosted a wild Anzac Day street party complete with outdoor two-up arenas, BBQs, booze, and live music.
One woman attending the party was even pictured doing a shoey at the packed-out event.
However, some Aussies on social media were left wondering how the wild partying on Anzac Day was honouring veterans.
‘Soldiers sacrificed their lives so people can get drunk and gamble like idiots. Aussie culture is a joke,’ one wrote.
A woman (above) was spotted doing a shoey at the Royal Hotel Paddington, in Sydney’s east, on Anzac Day
‘Drinking and gambling at 9.30am ‘for the troops’ is so cooked,’ another said.
But others have defended the nationwide parties, noting drinking and gambling are ‘traditional’ for Aussies.
‘It’s a part of our national history,’ one said about two-up.
‘As long as you make the same effort for the dawn service, enjoy it for those who made the ultimate sacrifice,’ another said.
NSW Police said it was ‘pleased with the behaviour of crowds attending the Anzac Day march and commemoration ceremonies across Sydney’.
‘Every year we come together as a community to recognise the courage and sacrifice of our servicemen and women, both past and present, and that is exactly what Sydney did today,’ Assistant Commissioner Scott Whyte said.
Thousands of Aussies headed to their local pubs to place bets on Two-Up games, which are outlawed every other day of the year (pictured, punters at the Royal Hotel Paddington)
He continued: ‘More than 7,000 attended the Dawn Service, and over 11,500 marched.
‘It was great to see the Anzac spirit on display with crowds cheering on veterans, their families and members of the community in marches, which have been both safe and successful.
‘While police responded to a few isolated incidents, we were pleased to see crowds paying their respects appropriately on one of the country’s most important national days.’
He also reminded partygoers to behave as pub events continue following two arrests earlier on Tuesday.
A 21-year-old man was arrested after allegedly assaulting two officers and a 41-year-old man was arrested for allegedly failing to comply with a move-on order, both in Surry Hills.
Some Aussies who saw photos and videos of partygoers drinking and gambling on Anzac Day said the events were disrespectful (pictured, a woman playing Two-Up)
By 12pm on Tuesday the Royal Hotel Paddington was operating under a ‘one-in-one-out’ entry policy (pictured, the crowd watching the coins fall during Two-Up)
Pubs around Sydney reached full capacity by lunchtime as partygoers flocked to celebrate the national public holiday (pictured, the Royal Hotel Paddington)
Sydney pubgoers were reminded by police to be on their best behaviour on Tuesday following two arrests earlier in the day (pictured, a man plays Two-Up in Sydney)
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