ANZAC Day Commemoration Services

Ms LUETHEN (King) (15:59): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity today to speak about veterans and ANZAC Day 2021. Again in the lead-up to ANZAC Day 2021, it became evident that traditional ways in which we have paid our respects in the past were not going to be possible in every location, but they were a step closer.

I wish to thank the organisers of all the events for their tremendous efforts to make decisions on how they could hold their event and keep our community safe. I would like to thank the Returned and Services League of Australia and its respective branches for coming up with different ways that ANZAC Day could be commemorated.

On the Friday before ANZAC Day, it was an honour to be invited to lay a wreath on behalf of our King community at Estia Health Golden Grove, and I thank the manager, Tracey, for organising this memorable service. Thank you for providing all residents with the opportunity to participate and proudly display their medals, their ribbons and the unit citations they had earned. It was very special to see over 70 residents wearing the red poppy, symbolising peace, death and the sleep of the fallen service men and women. Thank you to Reverend Jonathan Button for leading a most beautiful service.

Thank you to the Tea Tree Gully RSL sub-branch, led by Malcolm Fergusson and Wayne Langford, for holding a smaller Saturday night service at the Tea Tree Gully Memorial Garden. It was an honour to lay a gift of ANZAC storybooks on behalf of people in King, and I look forward to local students having the opportunity to read these books. Additionally, we were blessed to listen to The Last Post played live on a bugle by local Greenwith resident David Gardiner.

On Sunday morning, I attended the dawn service organised by the One Tree Hill Progress Association. This was also a service with restricted numbers inside the One Tree Hill Institute, and I thank Steve Huckstepp and the committee for organising this commemoration event. The Air Force, Navy and Army were represented as special guests in the proceedings.

The catafalque party gave this service a special feel, and it was touching that local legend Fred Riley was called upon to lay a wreath on behalf of the whole One Tree Hill community. Again, it was an honour to lay a wreath on behalf of everyone living in King. It was wonderful to see that 19 One Tree Hill Scouts were also present, participating in this special commemoration.

After this dawn service, I had the honour of attending and speaking at the Ferns Lifestyle Village commemoration service at Salisbury East. I commend the residents and the committee for honouring their veterans and holding their traditional ANZAC service outside. The weather was perfect for the service this year, and I thank Joyce for the invitation.

The special service was followed up by generous cooked breakfast, with great company from across the village. It was a real honour to lay a wreath and again donate ANZAC books on behalf of people living in King. I was also grateful to be invited and be able to attend the Pegasus Pony Club commemoration. Sylvia Usher has been holding this ANZAC service and moment for over 35 years now at the club.

I wish to thank the Salisbury RSL sub-branch for holding a special commemoration again this year. I have been told that Graham Reynolds did a great job as MC for the Salisbury RSL sub-branch ANZAC Day dawn service, and I would like to make special mention of the president, Donald Prider; the vice-president, Robert Howard; the treasurer, Jody Goss; and secretary, Michele Howard. Congratulations to all involved at the Salisbury RSL for hosting this commemoration.

Lastly, I also wish to pay my respects to Salisbury community legend Mick Lennon, who recently passed. Mick was an icon of the Salisbury region and a very nice man. I thank him for all he did to serve the community and help others. Mick was a former president of the Salisbury RSL, a strong supporter of the Salisbury Business Association, Salisbury Citizen of the year and a life member of Lions@Salisbury. I crossed paths with Mick in the last few years as he also visited the residents of Estia Health Golden Grove, and arranged morning teas and special guests. I formally pass on my sincerest condolences to Mick's family and friends for their very sad loss. Lest we forget.

Thank you to everyone in the northern community for their efforts and for helping us gather to recognise the sacrifices that have been made for us so that we can live in peace today. Lest we forget.