Motions

Purple Poppy Day

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. F. Pangallo:

That this council—

1. Notes that 24 February 2019 commemorated Australia's inaugural national Purple Poppy Day, acknowledging the outstanding deeds and sacrifices our four-legged and feathered Diggers have made serving alongside our troops in all war conflicts;

2. Acknowledges the crucial contribution that animals make in all war conflicts for safety, transport, communication and companionship; and

3. Calls on the state government to work with other state governments and the commonwealth to ensure that national Purple Poppy Day is recognised as an annual commemorative event.

(Continued from 13 November 2019.)

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (19:45): I rise to support the motion. In doing so, I acknowledge that 24 February 2019 marked Australia's inaugural Purple Poppy Day and that this day should be appropriately recognised annually across Australia's federation. As the Hon. Frank Pangallo emphasised in his contribution to this motion, animals have provided our service men and women with safety, transport, communication and companionship amidst conflict and after their service.

In moving this motion, the honourable member referred to the incredible losses of horses, mules and donkeys during the First World War—some eight million—in addition to the loss of some one million dogs. Last year, this chamber supported another motion, also moved by the honourable member, acknowledging the brave deeds and service of Digger the bulldog and the Australian Light Horse Bill the Bastard during the First World War. In this motion, the Hon. Frank Pangallo also acknowledged the ongoing valuable work explosive detection dogs continue to perform on the front line in Afghanistan.

The service and suffering expressed by these and other animals conscripted into armed conflicts should be appropriately acknowledged. The purple poppy, to be worn on 24 February alongside the red poppy, provides an appropriate emblem of commemoration. It is pleasing to note that the proceeds from the sale of purple poppies are used by the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation (AWAMO) to establish memorials to animals killed in armed conflict. The AWAMO also funds services designed to care for returned animals of war and funds the training of support animals for returned service men and women suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

I would like to make a few short remarks on the value of the last initiative. The AWAMO supports two prominent programs designed to assist veterans' emotional and mental wellbeing through animal companionship: the Mates4Mates Equine Therapy Program and the Young Diggers assistance dog program. It is pleasing that the Department of Veterans' Affairs has also recently introduced a program which provides psychiatric assistance dogs to eligible veterans who are also receiving treatment for PTSD.

The department is very complimentary of the valuable support these specially trained assistance dogs provide to veterans. This support includes detecting signs of distress in their handler and performing specific tasks to help alleviate those symptoms. This can be done, for example, by the assistance dog walking a veteran experiencing a night terror or nuzzling their handler to distract them from emotionally disabling symptoms. This type of support reduces the potential for veteran isolation and contributes to the mental and emotional wellbeing of veterans, which could save their lives.

I commend the work of the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation, as well as the providers of DVA's assistance dog training and research programs: Smart Pups Assistance Dogs and the Centre for Service and Therapy Dogs Australia. I commend the motion.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (19:48): I would like to thank the Hon. Frank Pangallo for moving the motion in the Legislative Council to recognise Purple Poppy Day. Purple Poppy Day is to commemorate all the animals that have served and continue to serve in war-torn conflicts. It is an occasion that serves as a reminder to acknowledge the bravery of animals and that both humans and animals have served together in protecting our national interest.

To commemorate this occasion, the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation introduced Purple Poppy Day to Australia in 2013. I have been told by AWAMO that 29 February 2019 marked the inaugural day for war animals in Australia. In times of conflict, we have relied on animals for transport, logistics, communications and companionship. For example, dogs are the most indispensable war animals. Dogs have been used to carry messages, ammunition and medical equipment, as well as to locate wounded soldiers. Dogs are also used for sniffing out explosives, which has actually saved many lives in Afghanistan.

In November last year, I spoke to the motion that was moved by the Hon. Frank Pangallo, which highlighted the work and service of Digger the war dog. Digger, a brown-and-white bulldog, was a remarkable war animal, who served during some of the worst battles of Gallipoli and the Western Front.

In 2017, the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation (a not-for-profit) raised awareness of the bravery shown by all war animals by establishing a memorial at the West Croydon and Kilkenny RSL to commemorate Digger's unique and incredible story. The memorial was unveiled on 29 October 2017. On 29 June this year, it was an honour for me to represent the Premier at the AWAMO ceremony where Digger the war dog was awarded the Blue Cross medal at the West Croydon and Kilkenny RSL. I was pleased and quite proud of the Hon. Frank Pangallo for his efforts in bringing this story to life.

Horses are another indispensable war animal. Horses of Australian origin first served in the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902. Australian-bred horses were considered to be the finest cavalry horses in the world, especially with their endurance, reliability and hardiness. More than 136,000 Australian-bred horses served with Australian troops during World War I.

In November last year, I spoke to the Animals of War motion, which highlighted the service of Bill the Bastard, an Australian-bred waler. Bill was described as powerful and intellectual, with unmatched courage. Bill became a legend and a symbol of the courage and unbreakable will of the ANZAC mounted force. Even though mules and donkeys are much smaller animals, they have served in both world wars and were vital forms of the transportation of soldiers, belongings and ammunition.

Camels are well suited to a desert environment, being hardy and not requiring much water, which explains why camels were well used in the Middle East during World War I. In January 1916, the Imperial Camel Corps (ICC) was formed in order to deal with the revolt in Egypt's Western Desert. Our feathered friends, such as pigeons, were also used by the allies during the world wars. Pigeons were extremely useful when communication was very difficult and, at times, limited.

I have no doubt that all Australians, in particular animal lovers, will take the time to reflect on the extraordinary bravery of those animals who have served in war alongside our service personnel. Again, I would like to thank the honourable member for bringing this motion to the chamber, and I am pleased to convey the government's support.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (19:52): I would like to thank the Hon. Russell Wortley and the Hon. Terry Stephens for their contributions in support of this important motion, because the underlying message for Purple Poppy Day and recognising animals in war—dogs, horses and other animals—is PTSD.

During those war campaigns, males and females bonded closely with animals that they served alongside. They became not only companions but protection from the horrors that surrounded them. The underlying message is PTSD, and the funds raised by Nigel Allsopp and the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation go towards providing animals used in the treatment of veterans who suffer PTSD and other charitable causes recognising the efforts of animals.

In closing, Nigel informed me that he was recently invited to Canberra where there was a ceremony honouring the dogs that had served in Afghanistan, so it continues. I will be writing to the Premier, in his capacity as Minister for Veterans' Affairs, to ask him to formally recognise that 24 February is Purple Poppy Day. With that, I commend the motion to the Legislative Council.

Motion carried.