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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-10 Daily Xml
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REMEMBRANCE DAY

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (14:10): My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. During this important time of remembrance in our ex-service commemorative calendar, can the Treasurer tell the house about how Remembrance Day will be commemorated in South Australia?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:10): I thank the member for Taylor for the question, and I also congratulate her on her important appointment and look forward to working very closely with her in my capacity as Minister for Defence Industries. Remembrance Day commemorates the sacrifice of members of the armed forces and civilians in times of war. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918.

I am encouraging all South Australians, wherever they are at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning, just to stop what they are doing for one minute, to pause and to reflect on the commitment made by those men and women who served in times of war. I will also encourage all South Australians to wear a poppy tomorrow as a symbol of remembrance and of new life. Last month, my predecessor, the Hon. Tom Kenyon, wrote to all cabinet ministers, encouraging them to request chief executives in the Public Service to arrange a formal acknowledgement of Remembrance Day within government departments this year.

The first veterans community function I attended after being sworn in as Minister for Veterans' Affairs on 21 October was a well-attended veterans community meeting held last week at the Torrens Training Depot. The meeting gave me the opportunity to hear first-hand the matters of concern and suggestions that our veterans have for their community. I would like to pay tribute to the previous minister Kenyon for arranging this valuable meeting and for his energy, interest in, knowledge of and genuine concern for the veterans community.

Veterans SA has been examining ways to increase public awareness of Remembrance Day in South Australia. Part of this campaign has been the production of a CD giving the entire format of a Remembrance Day ceremony in one package. The voice of Bill Schmitt AM, reciting The Ode, is used on the CD, and the front cover features naval veteran Mrs Jean Copley, Squadron Leader David Leicester DFC and Bar OAM, and Bill Schmitt AM. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank these three fine South Australian veterans for being a part of this project. The CD has been very well received in the veterans community and schools, and it will be played across the state tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I will have the privilege of attending a Remembrance Day service at the Australian Imperial Forces section of the West Terrace Cemetery. The AIF Cemetery was officially opened in 1920, soon after peace was declared in the Great War 1914-18. It was dedicated exclusively for the burial of ex-service personnel. This project was the first soldiers' burial ground in the commonwealth and contains the graves of 4,155 ex-service personnel, including four Victoria Cross recipients.

Remembrance Day services will be held at war memorials and schools across our state and a minute's silence observed on the day when millions of people around the world pay a silent tribute to the service and sacrifice of ex-service men and women and their families who have given so much to enable us to live the way of life we are so fortunate to enjoy. We remember them not only on Remembrance Day but, indeed, every day. Lest we forget.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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