Virtual War Memorial Australia Podcast

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:14): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Can the minister tell the chamber about the Virtual War Memorial Australia's recent event to launch their latest podcast?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his question. Last week, I had the honour of being invited to speak at the Virtual War Memorial of Australia's podcast launch for the last of their four-part series podcast for their schools program, Bringing His Spirit Home: Private Arthur Thomas Walker, Ngarrindjeri ANZAC.

The Virtual War Memorial of Australia is a fantastic website and endeavour which is continually producing educational resources about the history of our country and our country's participation in world conflicts. This podcast is no exception, rounding out the podcast series highlighting untold stories of our ANZACs. Bringing His Spirit Home, the podcast about Ngarrindjeri man Private Arthur Thomas Walker, tells the story of Private Walker's brave service in World War I, where he risked and ultimately lost his life fighting for his land.

Podcast creator Megan Spencer created this podcast utilising voices and stories of Private Walker's family, including Uncle John Lochowiak, who proudly spoke of the stories passed down from his great-grandfather. The podcast launch began beside the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial on Victoria Drive, where Uncle John performed a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony with his youngest son, Jackson. Where we gathered, Private Arthur Thomas Walker's name is displayed in a brick in the paving around the monument, a fitting place to perform this welcome.

We moved inside where we heard from Sharyn Roberts, CEO of the Virtual War Memorial of Australia, Megan Spencer, the podcast creator, and Uncle John, who reflected not only on the importance of taking part in telling his great-grandfather's story but also highlighting how incredible it was for us to gather so many years later to acknowledge those like Private Walker who gave up so much for our country. I would like to acknowledge the shadow minister for Aboriginal affairs, Josh Teague, the member for Heysen, who was able to join us inside for the speeches.

It is important for us to reflect and remember those who served our country, and also very important to remember those who have been often overlooked, like the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who provided service in both of the world wars, even though it was illegal to do so and they were not citizens of the country that they were fighting for.

When Private Arthur Thomas Walker, a Ramindjeri man of the Ngarrindjeri nation, served in Gallipoli in 1915, he did so illegally, like so many other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and servicewomen. Often when these service men and women returned from their efforts defending the country, they returned without citizenship and, all too frequently, their land being taken away. I want to congratulate the Virtual War Memorial of Australia, and Megan Spencer particularly, for creating this podcast focusing on two not-as-well-known stories during World War I and World War II.