ANZAC Day Commemoration Services

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (15:21): On ANZAC Day last month, South Australians and Australians right across the country gathered, often in small groups on street corners or at war memorials, to commemorate all of those who have served, who are serving and, indeed, those who have paid the ultimate price. Some of those local ceremonies occurred in my own community, and I wanted to take a moment in parliament today to acknowledge those community groups and individuals who have helped put together ANZAC Day ceremonies in the eastern suburbs.

I include the Friends of Rose Park War Memorial, who each year organise an ANZAC Day ceremony at the Rose Park Burnside District Fallen Soldiers' Memorial, which is quite a striking memorial. It celebrated its centenary last year. We had a ceremony that I attended, along with many members of the community and Her Excellency the Governor, to celebrate the centenary last year. Each year we gather at dawn at that memorial to mark ANZAC Day. I want to acknowledge the Friends of Rose Park War Memorial who each year put that together, and really it is a small committee of no more than about half a dozen people.

I want to acknowledge their work, including Steve Larkins OAM, who is the honorary Chair of the Friends of the Rose Park War Memorial and was also the MC on the day and did a terrific job; Pauline Silins, who is the Secretary of the Friends of Rose Park War Memorial and has been serving in that role for a very long time; Reverend Ruth Brogan, who is the minister at Gartrell Church very close to the memorial and was the officiating minister for the service this year, as she has done in previous years; Lyndon Stacy; and Geoff Walsh. This is a small group of people who do a really important thing for our local community, which is put on at that ANZAC Day ceremony each year at the Rose Park War Memorial.

I had the honour of going along and laying a wreath this year, as I have done in previous years, and I have to say just how moving and encouraging it has been over my lifetime going to this particular ceremony and seeing the number of people who attend that event actually grow, particularly the number of young people who attend that event coming in their hundreds at dawn to mark ANZAC Day.

The Friends of the Rose Park War Memorial have also asked me to particularly acknowledge the piper on the day, Eric Gittens, and also the bugler who was Ben Spitty, and also those who helped in various other capacities on the day, including the catafalque party No.10 Squadron Edinburgh; the City of Burnside, which assisted with traffic control; and Sing Australia Burnside, the choir for this year's ceremony, which was a very nice addition to have and they sang beautifully.

Students from Rose Park Primary School participate most years, including this year with a couple reading out some prayers; the Rose Park Norwood Scout Group assisted with handing out programs; and various volunteers from the Gartrell Church assisted with setting up chairs and speakers and other items that were needed for the ceremony. So for all of those who helped out organising that special ANZAC Day ceremony I say thank you and acknowledge your contribution here in parliament today.

I also want to acknowledge the Kensington Gardens RSL. I went along to the RSL following the Rose Park ceremony and enjoyed a barbecue and a breakfast beer. They had a very well-attended service as well, led by Bishop Tim Harris. But I want to acknowledge the President of that RSL, Peter Lloyd. The remembrance address was delivered by Ellis Wayland. Rod Graham helped with the program and Steven Roberts with the sound system.

The day before ANZAC Day the Linden Park RARA held a ceremony at the Regis Aged Care facility that I was able to visit and I want to acknowledge Mal Allen, Colin Abel, Lou Khorasanee and Gino Arendic for their contribution to that, as well as Pipe Major Andrew Fuller. In particular, I acknowledge 103-year-old World War II veteran Cecil Ireland, who I had the opportunity to meet on the day, who served in World War II and we commemorated on ANZAC Day. Thank you all for your contribution.