Memories of Lemnos

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. J.S. Lee:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the Organisation of Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia (SA) for its efforts to commemorate the centenary of ANZAC with the Memories of Lemnos and the Australian Nurses and the ANZAC centenary ceremony on Sunday 19 April 2015, at Keswick Barracks;

2. Recognises the service given by Australian nurses on the Greek island of Lemnos during the Gallipoli landing;

3. Recognises Greece for supporting Australia's war effort through its support for Australian nurses stationed at military hospitals based on Lemnos island during the Gallipoli campaign; and

4. Considers a permanent memorial specifically commemorating the Australian women who served as nurses on Lemnos island be incorporated in the soon to be constructed Anzac Walk.

(Continued from 1 July 2015.)

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (22:04): I rise to speak in support of the motion that this council congratulate the Organisation of Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia to commemorate the centenary of ANZAC with the Memories of Lemnos and the Australian Nurses and the ANZAC centenary ceremony on Sunday 19 April 2015 at Keswick Barracks; recognise the service given by Australian nurses on the Greek island of Lemnos during the Gallipoli landing; recognise Greece for supporting Australia's war effort through its support for Australian nurses stationed at military hospitals based on Lemnos island during the Gallipoli campaign; and consider a permanent memorial specifically commemorating the Australian women who served on Lemnos island be incorporated in the soon-to-be constructed Anzac Walk.

This motion specifically acknowledges the outstanding contribution of women during the Gallipoli campaign, as well as the generosity of the people of Greece as they allowed the British and Australian personnel to operate hospital facilities on their islands during the allied assault on the Dardanelles. The Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia recognised this joint contribution made by Greece and Australia in their ANZAC Day address earlier this year and the important contribution made by the 96 Australian nurses who served in the two Australian field hospitals on Lemnos.

The majority of the women arrived on the island over two days. The barren island afforded little protection from the extremities and the remote location made sourcing fresh food difficult. For many of the nurses this was their first trip out of Australia and they demonstrated great resilience as they worked in poor conditions to build and maintain under-resourced hospital facilities through which thousands of soldiers would pass.

Gallipoli was the first major campaign fought by Australian forces in World War I. As the closest land hospital to the Gallipoli campaign, Lemnos was the main assembly point for the allied Gallipoli invasion force and the site of the major land-based nursing stations during the campaign. Lemnos, therefore, was not only a safe transit harbour of military significance, it was also a place of healing and respite for soldiers from the horrors and disease of the Gallipoli peninsula. One would like to think that these early encounters between the Australians and the Greeks sowed the seeds for our strong and lasting relationship with the peoples of Greece, especially in South Australia.

Remembering the contribution that Greece made in support of Australia's war efforts by commemorating the work of the nurses of Lemnos in the soon-to-be constructed Anzac Memorial Walk is, in my view, a respectful way to remind generations to come of the compassion and resourcefulness displayed by so many individuals, both Australian and Greek, who for a short time lived life side by side, but especially the work of the nurses who provided care and love to the wounded and dying men broken by the conflict on the nearby peninsula. I commend the motion to the chamber.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (22:07): On Saturday 19 April 2015, the Treasurer, the Hon. Tom Koutsantonis, attended the Memories of Lemnos: Australian Nurses and the ANZAC Centenary commemorative event organised by the Organisation of Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia (South Australia). The event highlighted the service of Australian nurses based on the Greek island of Lemnos during the Gallipoli landing in 1915.

Lemnos' role in the Dardanelles campaign should not be forgotten. It was the principal assembly, embarkation and supply point for the Gallipoli landings. The landings at Gallipoli were practised on Lemnos prior to deployment and the island's harbour was a major staging post for naval operations in the Gallipoli campaign, including Australia's submarine campaign. The vast majority of ANZAC troops spent time on Lemnos, whether preparing for the landing, resting or recuperating at its rest camps, or recovering from the horrors of war in its field hospitals.

Lemnos was the location of the major nursing stations for the Gallipoli campaign, with 130 Australian nurses, led by Matron Grace Wilson, the first major overseas deployment of Australian nurses to a war theatre.

By the beginning of August 1915, the 3^rd Australian General Hospital was landed on the island as a medical facility. The island was intended initially to deal with light cases only, those classified as likely to be well within 28 days, but the rush of wounded from the early August offensive at Lone Pine and The Nek, and the flood of sick that followed in late August, September and October necessitated its development as an intermediate military medical base.

The Australian Red Cross was represented on the island through its aid depot and in the distribution of aid parcels to nurses and soldiers. A number of major Australian figures visited the island, such as Albert Jacka VC and Generals Birdwood and Monash. The armistice concerning the Allies and the Ottoman Empire was signed in Mudros Harbour, Lemnos in 1918.

Lemnos is the location of two major commonwealth war graves, with 148 Australian graves. Lemnos and ANZAC represent the beginning of Australia's lasting connection with Greece. World War I marked Australia in a way that is almost impossible to fathom in current times. Of the 337,000 service personnel deployed overseas, over 210,000 became casualties. That is almost two-thirds. On average, 38 members of Australia's armed forces died every day during the 1,560 days of World War I. These are staggering statistics.

Gallipoli was not our bloodiest campaign—sadly, that would come later—but it was our first. The landings at what would become known as Anzac Cove and the events that followed until the withdrawal eight months later are recognised as defining moments of nationhood for Australia. What then is the legacy we take from Gallipoli and ANZAC? For me it is that what we value becomes our legacy. ANZAC is not about loss. It is not about war. It is about courage, endurance, sacrifice and, above all, mateship.

As Australia's official war historian, Charles Bean, said, 'Men would rather die than let down a mate.' One of the best examples of this commitment was Sister Rachael Pratt, who nursed the wounded in Turkey, France and elsewhere. In 1917, while Germans attacked a casualty clearing station, Rachael worked despite the shrapnel that had pierced through her back and lodged in her lung until she collapsed.

Rachael was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry under fire. She never recovered fully from her injuries, suffering chronic bronchitis for the rest of her life. She never recovered from the trauma, which is understandable. Sadly, eventually Rachael was deemed totally and permanently incapacitated and admitted to a hospital for the insane. Sister Pratt died in Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in 1954.

The government is committed to commemorating the centenary service during the centenary of the ANZAC period. I commend the Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia (SA) for their work in commemorating the role and achievement of Australia's nurses involved in the Gallipoli campaign and the centenary of ANZAC. I commend the motion to the council.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (22:14): I rise to sum up and thank the Hon. Andrew McLachlan and the Hon. Gerry Kandelaars for their wonderful contribution towards my motion and in supporting the motion to recognise the Organisation of Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia (SA) for their effort to commemorate the centenary of ANZAC with the memories of Lemnos and Australian nurses and the ANZAC centenary ceremony. It is through this important parliamentary process that we recognise their work and historic perspective about what they do and what they have achieved. I commend the motion to the chamber.

Motion carried.