ANZAC Day

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (15:35): Last Friday, across our great state and nation, we came together to honour the service and the sacrifice of those who have served and continue to serve our beautiful country, young and old, side by side in the quiet of dawn, united by remembrance. Today I want to share part of the ANZAC Day address given by the Town of Walkerville Mayor, Melissa Jones, that formed part of the Walkerville RSL's Dawn Service, where I was also in attendance. Mayor Jones shared an absolutely remarkable story of a Medindie local, Lieutenant Arthur Reginald Evans, DSC, commonly known as Reg. This is an excerpt of her address:

Evans was an Australian Coastwatcher during World War Two—one of the unsung heroes who worked behind enemy lines, gathering intelligence and saving lives. Part of his role in the War was covertly manning an observation post atop Mount Veve volcano in the Solomon Islands. Here, he observed the airstrips and the 10,000 Japanese soldiers who were camped on the island.

In August 1943, Evans witnessed an extraordinary event: an American patrol torpedo boat, captained by none other than John F. Kennedy, collided with a Japanese destroyer.

After the collision, Kennedy led his surviving crew to safety towing an injured crewman through the waters by holding onto the strap of his life jacket with his teeth. Exhausted, Kennedy himself had to be helped ashore. Evans, observing from his post, played a critical role in the rescue—

of someone who would become the US president—

Over the following days, he coordinated efforts with local Solomon Islander scouts and the US military, helping to ensure the safe recovery of Kennedy and his crew. His actions, though hidden from public recognition for many years, were instrumental in saving the life of the man who would later become the President of the United States of America.

Evans' identity remained a secret until Kennedy became President and he was invited to the White House. His courageous and selfless actions were later acknowledged when he received the United Kingdom's Distinguished Service Cross which was awarded for his bravery and enterprise in reconnaissance operations.

In Evans' own words: 'a coastwatcher's work was not to fight or destroy. His job was to look and listen and gather information: to sit hiding like a spider, right in the web of the enemy, but unseen and unheard. His duty was to communicate intelligence to headquarters and leave the rest of them. We became the eyes and ears of the Pacific.'

Evans' quiet achievement and commitment exemplify the values we honour today: sacrifice, service and resilience. His story is a reminder that heroism is not always found on the front lines. Sometimes, it is found in the shadows, in the patience and determination of those who wait, watch and act when the moment comes.

Let us also remember that Evans' courage was shared by countless other Australians, whose names may not be widely known, but whose actions helped shape the course of history and protect the freedoms we hold dear today.

Mayor Jones went on to acknowledge the research of historians and the Virtual War Memorial Australia for preserving and sharing the stories that enrich our understanding of the past. I want to thank Mayor Jones for sharing the absolutely incredible story of a Medindie local who played a part in saving the man who would go on to become the President of the United States of America.

I also want to take my last minute to thank the Town of Walkerville and the Walkerville RSL for their beautiful dawn service, and also the Walkerville RSL staff for putting on cups of tea (with something a little bit stronger in it) and a few beers, as well as the wonderful Walkerville Rotary Club for their gunfire breakfast after the service.

Also, thanks to the Prospect RSL. It is times like these you wish you could actually clone yourself so you could be in two places at once, but thank you to the Prospect RSL for their beautiful service, and to my adopted Uncle Roger, a retired Flight Lieutenant who laid a wreath on my behalf. Also, to everybody who attended a dawn service, thank you so much. Lest we forget.