Morphett Community Anzac Day Commemoration

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (15:25): I would like to take the opportunity today to speak in parliament about the way that the Morphett community commemorated Anzac Day. This year's Anzac Day service was conducted by the Plympton-Glenelg RSL at Moseley Square at Glenelg beach. The Plympton-Glenelg RSL was founded in 1919 by World War I and World War II veteran Bob McGhee and the club has a long history of supporting veterans in our community.

The dawn service is held at the Anzac Beach Memorial, which is on the elevated western side of Moseley Square. The Anzac Beach Memorial is made up of black granite and it was built back in 2015 when I was Mayor of the City of Holdfast Bay. It is in the shape of the setting sun, which is so very appropriate at Glenelg beach. Inscribed on the memorial are the words:

At the going down of the sun

We will remember them

Prior to the dawn service the crowd grew in number to a few thousand, as people came, not only from Glenelg but the surrounding suburbs, and they congregated around the memorial at Moseley Square. While the crowd did so, they did so very respectfully and also in silence. Looking around that crowd there were so many familiar faces from the local area of all different age groups.

At exactly 6 o'clock the service started, with the Master of Ceremonies Chelsea Carruthers starting proceedings before we heard the ANZAC address from Josh Rooney. The Catafalque Party, which was made up of Air Force cadets from the Warradale Barracks, marched in the direction of the Glenelg Town Hall, through the crowd to take up their place around the memorial. I was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of a grateful community, alongside fellow dignitaries representing all levels of government.

This was followed by community groups and individuals having the opportunity to lay a tribute, and it was pleasing to observe schoolchildren from the local schools, St Mary's Memorial, Glenelg Primary and St Leonards Primary, lay wreaths to honour our service men and women. The school principals were also present to pay their respects on behalf of their school communities.

After the wreath laying, Rob Gilles, who served on active service in South Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 with the 7^th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, recited the Ode. The bugler, Harold Bates Brownsword, then did the Last Post before the crowd fell quiet for the minute's silence. The minute's silence is haunting and occurs just as dawn is starting to break. The crashing of the waves is the only sound to focus people's thoughts, taking them back to Anzac Cove those 109 years ago in 1915.

The crowd then comes to life again with the Reveille played and followed by the national anthem of New Zealand, that was beautifully sung by Lara Mutu, and the Australian anthem sung by Raechel Summers. Many people remarked afterwards how moving and well organised the ceremony was, and it is worth reiterating that it is run solely by volunteers from the Plympton-Glenelg RSL. Thank you to those volunteers from the Plympton-Glenelg RSL, including Vice President Tich Tyson and his granddaughter Chelsea Carruthers who ensured that the dawn service ran smoothly. The volunteers, and also everyone in the crowd, contributed to making the dawn service a fitting way to remember the sacrifice made by all our service men and women of the armed services. As was said in the service: we will remember them.

Shortly after ANZAC Day on 5 May, we received the sad news that Plympton Glenelg RSL's President, Bill Hignett, had died after a short illness. Bill served in the 86 Transport Platoon in Vietnam and afterwards was heavily involved in the veterans community, including being the Plympton Glenelg RSL's President from 2021. His dedication and wise leadership focused on restoring the true purpose of the RSL to recognise the fallen and support those who returned, especially those who served in the most recent conflicts in Afghanistan.

Bill was involved in the wellbeing of veterans and their families at a national level and was instrumental in the initiative to set up veterans kiosks in regional areas, from Mount Gambier to Port Elliot. Bill's efforts improved so many lives and his service to the veterans community was rightly recognised when he was awarded the RSL National ANZAC of the Year in 2023 for his endeavours and leadership. On behalf of the Morphett community, I offer my condolences to Sally and his family. Vale Bill Hignett.