The city's main dawn and mid-morning services have been scaled back to invite only affairs for a few hundred people after organisers struggled to adhere to COVID-19 regulations; including fencing, QR codes and seating.

Stockton's Mick Barnes said he was devastated when he read the events would be exclusive. The decision also copped backlash from many on social media.

"I was definitely disappointed," Mr Barnes said. "Part of the reason is how well Australia has done managing COVID, especially Newcastle. Life is returning to somewhat normal and whilst missing last year was gut wrenching we were seeing the positive changes like the travel bubble and other large events in Newcastle.

"We had expectations the Anzac dawn service and other commemorations would follow suit and I think that's potentially some of the emotion behind comments that have followed that article."

Newcastle Anzac Day committee convenor Ken Fayle said he had received nasty messages about the decision and a lot of the criticism was from "ignorant people" who had no idea what went into the service.

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Mr Barnes said the ignorant comment was "disappointing" and asked whether the strong feedback should have prompted further inquiry from the sub-branch.

The 38-year-old said he wasn't invited to the Fort Scratchley dawn service and would likely attend one in Lake Macquarie or Port Stephens before returning to the 9am service at Stockton.

"The invites were more for RSL members," he said. "I'm not an RSL member yet, that's understandable. But Newcastle having 250 as their invite only from normally having 50,000 is probably pretty small."

Mr Fayle said a decision had to be made by February based on restrictions at the time and things couldn't easily be changed at short notice. He also said there's no enclosed area at Nobbys, and fencing would have been an expensive cost.

"If I spend sub-branch money which has been set aside for welfare, what happens to those people who deserve welfare? We also have to police that fencing, because people could remove it or push it aside," he said.

"As of last night six weeks after we applied for the licenses, they were finally granted. We have to do traffic control, hostile vehicle attack procedures. I don't think anybody understands what we've got to go through and that's before COVID. We have to have the health and wellbeing of the community front of mind."

Mr Barnes commended the sub-branch for making the Nobbys service into such a successful event over the years, and acknowledged members were volunteers, but said he would have helped if he knew the event would happen like this.

"It would have been hard for them to make that decision but I'm sure there's a lot more than 120 veterans around the Newcastle area, especially younger veterans. If we knew the possibilities of what has transpired, we may have come in droves to help.

"I think a second aspect is there hasn't been real transparency. What other organisational support from local government or businesses might have been able to be done? I don't mean sponsorship, Ken outlined it's not a commercial event nor should it ever be. But what's the non financial aspect that could have been done in support? If we had a larger ticketed event, yes fencing may have been required but could someone have donated fencing? That's just an example, but that wasn't transparent in the decision."

Mr Fayle said the RSL was "not obliged to publicise the minutes of every meeting we have" and invited those criticising the sub-branch to attend a meeting.

"Actually become part of the organisation. Put your hand up, volunteer," he said.

Mr Barnes defended the RSL against comparisons made to NRL games, but wondered if there were other events organisers could have liaised with for ideas.

"Dawn services are a lot different to footy. But there's thoughts around other outdoor activity - the Ripcurl surf event, the runners fest - with those kind of things have we asked, what did they do? Because we can take little pieces of successes that they've had and put them into a bit of a plan. What support did they have to get that? I don't know that and that's a part of the discussion - what could we have leveraged off? They're still doing a dawn service in Martin Place with a lot more than 250 people.

Related: COVID-19 regulatory red tape causes Anzac Day headaches

"We've done a lot better than Sydney in the way we've combated COVID. Resources in Sydney may have been a factor. But was it enough to go from 50,000 to 250? I've obviously not being privy to the police resourcing conversations or other services that needed to be involved but 250 is probably the disappointing part. Not just that but some RSL sub branches are not going ahead with a dawn service when you see others like Raymond Terrace and Maitland are."

Mr Fayle said Newcastle was "caught between a rock and a hard place" as it's not a well resourced big city, but isn't a country town with 30-40 people wanting to march. He said ticketing would have needed people to set it up, manage the webpage and scan on the day - a tough ask with limited resources.

"Sydney infrastructure is being looked after by people other than the RSL," he said. "Police were tasked to provide personnel to monitor social distancing. We know police resources here are stretched under normal circumstances on Anzac Day."

Mr Barnes said part of the issue was many young veterans hadn't joined RSL as they don't think the organisation can help them. RSL NSW has acknowledged this, telling the ABC in 2019 it had almost failed to engage with a lot of younger veterans.

"I am discussing this on behalf of mates I've served with or met post-military, we're not sure what exactly the RSL do," Mr Barnes said. "You can look it up on the website but you can't really see it. We see it as more of a secretive organisation.

"I joined the army at 17, served for six and half years and did overseas in East Timor and I'm now 38 and well into my second career, but I only go into the RSL once a year and that's for Anzac Day. The RSL brand isn't acknowledged the greatest among younger veterans."

Mr Fayle said there were current ADF members and young veterans in Newcastle sub-branch, and that the RSL worked hard to support veterans and their families.

Mr Barnes said he saw this as an opportunity to get involved and plans to meet with the RSL. "I think younger veterans can come with innovative ways to move forward and that's where I'm hoping to help," he said. "All these comments are just words without actions."

He also accepted young veterans had a role to play.

"I think its 50/50. I'm hoping to start those conversations. We do need to step up but I think the RSL has a part to play in driving that want for us to do it too."

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