'COURAGE AND HUMANITY' REGIONAL TOUR

Mr RAU (Enfield) (14:31): Will the Minister for Veterans Affairs update the house on the progress of the Badcoe VC/Burke and Wills breastplate tour of regional South Australia?

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:31): I would like to take the opportunity presented by this question to alert the house to a significant event for the veterans community—indeed, a significant event for all Australians. Yesterday the last Great War digger passed away. He was Mr Jack Ross, and he passed away peacefully at his nursing home in Bendigo, aged 110. With the passing of Mr Ross our nation lost its last personal link with one of the defining events of the last century, the Great War. Mr Ross served in both world wars, but he did not serve overseas. He enlisted in the Great War aged 18 and trained as a morse code operator. He also enlisted for the Second World War. We owe much to men like Mr Ross. They represent a generation that showed resilience, courage and determination, and they were the bedrock upon which our nation was built. Subsequent generations must never forget the sacrifice they made for our nation and way of life. Lest we forget.

Members may recall that the Victoria Cross awarded to Major Peter Badcoe was purchased last year at public auction by the state government jointly with philanthropist Mr Kerry Stokes. The Burke and Wills/Yandruwandha Breastplate was subsequently purchased by Mr Stokes and donated to the state of South Australia.

After the purchase, the Deputy Premier, who was then the acting premier, promised that both these items would tour regional South Australia to give as many people as possible the chance to see them. The items went on display at the South Australian Museum last July, and Mr Stokes and members of the Badcoe family were present when they were formally received by the state. Both of these items are of great historical interest and can teach us all about the characteristics of courage and humanity displayed by those who have served this nation in war and in peace.

Peter Badcoe was born in Malvern, South Australia, and joined the army after leaving school. He graduated from the Officer Cadet School at Portsea in Victoria in 1952. He served in Malaya in the early 1960s and then in the Vietnam War in 1966 and 1967. The Victoria Cross was awarded to him posthumously in recognition of his conspicuous courage and leadership under fire on three separate occasions in the Vietnam War. He was killed during the third action in 1967. Displayed along with his Victoria Cross are Major Badcoe's Vietnam Medal, US Silver Star, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

The Burke and Wills/Yandruwandha Breastplate was presented to the Yandruwandha peoples of north-eastern South Australia for the humanity shown to the ill-fated members of the Burke and Wills expedition of 1861.

The Hon. K.O. Foley interjecting:

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: Yes, I did mention that, Deputy Premier, and I mentioned that you were acting premier at the time. During the expedition, Burke and Wills were left stranded without food and water at the expedition's Cooper Creek base camp. Other members of the party had left only a few hours earlier, having given up hope for the safe return of the explorers. Despite help given them by the Yandruwandha people, both Burke and Wills perished.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: King didn't.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: King, however, survived, as the Minister for Infrastructure interjects, and was found by a search party in September 1861. Having reviewed the history of both these items, it is most appropriate that Courage and Humanity was the name selected for the tour. True to the government's word, the tour began on 21 March, when both items were taken to Victor Harbor for the opening of the new clubrooms of the RSL.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: I am advised that it was a most successful day, and the member for Finniss confirms that, and the presence of these items added to the atmosphere. Since being displayed at Victor Harbor, the items have been taken to Two Wells, Kingscote, Port Pirie and Port Augusta. In Port Pirie, the tour was hosted by the Port Pirie RSL Military Museum as part of the opening celebrations. The display was well received, with more than 450 visitors attending over two days.

I am advised that a cousin of Major Badcoe visited the display and was delighted that the medals of his cousin are in public ownership and on display in his home state. In Port Augusta, the display was hosted by the City of Port Augusta and held at the public library. Nearly 200 locals and tourists visited, including some Aboriginal residents and some Vietnam veterans. The display was well promoted in the local media, and a special viewing was held on 23 April.

The tour recommenced recently at Berri and then visited 12 other locations in the South-East. I am sorry if the member for Bragg has something else to do, other than attend question time. The tour then visited the Bublacowie Military Museum on Yorke Peninsula before touring towns in the Mid North. The tour opened in Broken Hill today. The final leg of the tour will include visits to towns on Eyre Peninsula. With ANZAC Day just over a month ago, the characteristics of courage and compassion are fresh in our minds.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: No, I mentioned that it went to Kingscote. This tour builds on those characteristics. It reinforces the importance we should place on the value of selfless courage—the putting of others before self. I am immensely pleased that the Badcoe Victoria Cross will be seen by so many South Australians. Likewise, I am pleased that such an interest is being taken in the Burke and Wills/Yandruwandha Breastplate. These items are quite different, but both speak loudly of courage. I encourage every citizen of South Australia to make the effort to see both these items and to learn the story of each.