LOCALS have expressed upset over businesses ‘cashing in’ on Anzac Day on the back of this week’s controversial Woolworths campaign.
A website generating pictures for use on social media sites was launched by the supermarket giant on Tuesday.
The generated pictures contained the words “Lest we forget Anzac 1915-2015” alongside a Woolworths logo and a large slogan reading “Fresh in our Memories”.
Public backlash was fierce, as Woolies was accused of exploiting Anzac Day for its own ends. The website had been removed by 9pm Tuesedy.
Earlier this week Swan Hill Woolworths had unveiled a wall display in commemoration of Anzac Day.
The display included images of the original soldier featured on the “Fresh in our Memories” website.
Yesterday the wall was bare.
Store manager Luke Hadfield declined to comment on whether the removal of the display was related to the website controversy.
However, Mr Hadfield said reaction to the incident had been minimal.
Secretary of Swan Hill Legacy Harold Heslop labelled the Woolworths stunt a “very sneaky move”.
“It’s the single biggest day in our nation’s history.”
“The commercialisation that Woolies had done did not go over well with Swan Hill Legacy,” Mr Heslop said.
“Basically the situation with Anzac Day as far as I’m concerned is that it should be Anzac Day and Anzac Day alone,” he said.
“It’s the single biggest day in our nation’s history.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Michael Ronaldson said that Woolworths had not sought his permission regarding the website.
“As Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, I am responsible for ensuring that any use of the word ‘Anzac’ does not provide commercial benefit to an organisation,” the statement read.
An official Woolworths statement expressed apology for the campaign, saying “We regret that our branding on the picture generator has caused offence, this was clearly never our intention”.
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