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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-24 Daily Xml
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REMEMBRANCE DAY

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (15:21): Remembrance Day means different things to different people. For those who have fought in a war, served in support teams, been involved in a peacekeeping operation or lost loved ones in conflicts, it is highly personal. For those whose connection is limited to accounts related by others, either firsthand or through the history books, there will be no flood of memories each year at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, but it remains a commemoration that evokes the utmost respect.

Of course, when it was first set aside, 11 November honoured those who died in just one war, almost a century ago. Indeed, in the modern era, Remembrance Day has also come to commemorate lives lost in war, battles, conflicts and other military operations around the world and across the generations since World War I.

For most, 11 November is probably best summed up by one word—sacrifice. It is most obviously a time set aside to remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in the cause of peace. But as we keep a minute's silence, we also think of the sacrifice of those who risked their lives, their comfort and their sanity, those who lost their innocence and their youth when war came. We think as well of the sacrifices of those who lost loved ones to wars, either temporarily or permanently.

This year on Remembrance Day, I had the privilege of joining the students and staff of Seaview High School for their ceremony, to speak to them and present them with new flags for the wonderful memorial area they are developing. The involvement of the student body and the wider school community in this assembly and the ongoing memorial projects is very noteworthy.

Under the guidance of Deputy Principal Roy Webb, whose own father was a Normandy veteran, and with the assistance of government funding, the school is working towards a memorial walk and courtyard leading from the memorial arches at the front of the campus. Seaview also has a Remembrance Garden, which was dedicated by the student representative body on Remembrance Day.

As part of the ceremony this year, year 9 student Kate Laing gave the Welcome to Country, while year 10 student Renee Pounsett sang the national anthem. Retired serviceperson David Ludlow, who is the son of Seaview teacher Carol Ludlow, delivered the Ode. It was a truly moving, inspirational and utterly respectful and appropriate tribute to the fallen, and I thank Principal Penny Tranter for the invitation to take part in and witness this special day in the school's life.

While I have time, I am going to venture outside my electorate and into the member for the Bright's electorate. I would like to acknowledge the great achievement of the students and staff at Brighton Secondary School. With a performance inspired by the story of abandoned orphans and the fall of communism in 1989, the school won the 2011 National Rock Eisteddfod Challenge. The win is the first time in 31 years a school outside of New South Wales or Victoria has won the national title. I congratulate all of the students and staff on their win and wish them well when the school represents Australia in the Global Rock Challenge Championships challenge between schools from the UK, New Zealand and Japan.

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