HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Subject Index
House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-01 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

ANZAC DAY

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:51): On Wednesday 25 April, the day after Kapyong Day observances, along with the members for Newland and Makin and an ever-growing number of people, I attended the Tea Tree Gully RSL's dawn service at the commemorative garden site on the corner of Memorial Drive and North East Road. The beautiful location is the result of a City of Tea Tree Gully initiative spearheaded by councillor Kevin Knight, who embraced the vision and proposed the purchase of the land, which will soon be too small if the attendance trend of the past few years continues, and there is every likelihood that it will. I congratulate the Tea Tree Gully RSL members for another moving ceremony, officiated by Salvation Army Major Howard Trendell.

I was proud to have my son attending. Wearing my father's World War II medals, I laid a wreath on behalf of the electors of Florey. The Tea Tree Gully Redbacks Band, under the direction of David Gardiner, provided musical accompaniment for the choir and the public brave enough to sing, before they headed to the city to take their place in the march for two rotations, which is something the Tea Tree Gully Redbacks do every year.

At the conclusion, as the crowd headed for the clubrooms, we walked through a guard of honour of scouts and guides. Perhaps our ceremony will be able to consider a youth vigil next year to provide further opportunity for our young people to pay respect to those involved in defending our way of life.

Lois Ramage, Jeanette Martin and their wonderful team of helpers again provided the legendary (and often taken fortified) Tea Tree Gully RSL hot milk coffee, made to a secret recipe that many try to emulate. It is part of the breakfast of sandwiches, barbecue and sausage sizzle prepared by the local CFS members. I know I speak on behalf of all those attending when I thank everyone concerned for their work and support of this ritual opening to ANZAC Day.

Later, at home, I watched the TV coverage of the march through the city, enjoying the expert ABC commentary and crosses to Peter Goers, that knowledgeable and great friend of the services and veteran community. Then I saw the service at the Cross of Sacrifice attended by our Governor, followed by the coverage of Gallipoli and the dawn service there. Australia, New Zealand and Turkish officials have made this such a special ceremony at a place where so many of our men courageously fought and with many now still lying there at peace.

One such man is Charles Matters, brother of Muriel Matters. Charles died eight weeks after landing. His name is for all time on the Lone Pine memorial. While a peace activist, Muriel and many like her became conscientious objectors, supporting the troops but not the notion of armed conflict. Charles's is one of the thousands of ANZAC stories, which also includes the hidden contribution of Aboriginal Australians, invisible for many years because of the Anglo names they carried into battle.

Over 400 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soldiers enlisted or served in World War I. When war broke out in 1914, many Aborigines who tried to enlist were rejected on the grounds of race. Others managed to slip through the net, pretending to be Maori or Indian. By October 1917, when recruits were harder to find and one conscription referendum had already been lost, restrictions were cautiously eased. A new military order stated:

Half-castes may be enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force provided that the examining Medical Officers are satisfied that one of the parents is of European origin.

That was as far as Australia officially would go. One Aboriginal soldier was South Australia's Alfred Cameron, the son of Alfred Cameron senior and Jessie Cameron (nee Forrest). He was born at Brinkley Station near Wellington on 17 May 1890. His father was a shearer and a highly respected foundation member of the Australian Workers Union. Before the war, he worked as a labourer in the Meningie district. He enlisted at Oaklands on 15 January 1915 and was allocated to the 8th reinforcements to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment. After seven months' training, Alfred embarked on the Morea with the rest of his reinforcements at Adelaide on 26 August 1915.

I also watched the coverage from Villers-Bretonneux, highlighting the amazing feats that took place in and around that district, which is now almost part of Australia, where Australians are rightly held in high esteem. The stories of the dark days of World War I conflicts that ravaged the now peaceful countryside and robbed so many of life gave freedom to those who survived what was then considered to be 'the war to end all wars'.

I am in awe of the generations who endured the wars and marvel at their tenacity and commitment to the democratic principles at the heart of the conflicts—the men who fought so bravely, the women who carried out so many roles while keeping families together. May we always remember their determination and their sacrifice for a better world.

As the centenary of the ANZAC landing approaches and more of the history becomes known and shared, the RSL's role in perpetuating commemorations will be realised and the future of this important national day guaranteed as new generations step up to take responsibility for this shared national remembrance.

Each of us will have our own feelings and understanding about ANZAC Day, its place in history and what it means for the future, how it now embraces all service men and women involved in all the conflicts, those who made the ultimate sacrifice in laying down their lives, those wounded physically and mentally, and the people whose lives have been changed forever by war. We will remember them. Lest we forget.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT