Grievance Debate

Violet Day

Mr PISONI (Unley) (15:19): Before the poppy became a symbol of remembrance, South Australia used the violet as a symbol of perpetual remembrance. The first Violet Day was held in Adelaide on 2 July 1915, with a crowd gathering at what we know now as the Boer War memorial—which I note is suitably decorated today—to honour and remember Australian troops and to listen to speeches and the police band, and I thank those participating in that decoration.

As part of the Cheer-Up Fund, women dressed in white and sold posies of violets and purple ribbons. In the years of war that followed, Violet Day was repeated and, by 1917, newspaper reports were stressing the significance of the violet as 'the symbol of perpetual remembrance for those gallant dead who have given their lives for their country'. Again, a ceremony was held at the War Memorial, with the naval and military bands in attendance.

In an interesting reflection on the different attitudes of the time, the gathering was advised that to grieve long and hopelessly was futile and wrong. Tears should not mar the day but thoughts of a brightness of glory should prevail. However, the Governor, Sir Henry Galway, who was obviously a man sensitive to issues broader than the huge sacrifices being made by men at the front, addressed the gathering promising:

…their memory will never fade…Today we not only honour the dead, but our hearts go out with the deepest respect and sympathy to those who are mourning the loss of their nearest and dearest. The British Empire will never be able to repay the debt owed to the women for their calm self sacrifice in this great struggle. They have given everything uncomplainingly. We are as proud of our women as of our men…The memory or our honoured dead will remain with us for all time.

Today, of course, marks the 100-year anniversary or centenary of Violet Day. When remembering Violet Day and those who have served, we should, like Governor Galway, also recognise that Violet Day, Cheer-Up societies and many of the activities at that time provided comfort, fundraising, preparing comfort packages, tending to the returned wounded and giving moral support to those serving overseas by pro active, talented and dedicated women doing everything within their power to assist in the war effort, their menfolk and the nation.

I was very privileged, of course, today to be earlier involved in a bipartisan supported motion that also recognised for the first time nurses serving on Lemnos island in the Gallipoli confrontation during World War I.