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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-08-06 Daily Xml
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Muriel Matters Room

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:11): Yesterday, at a modest ceremony within the Parliamentary Library, in an event held under the auspices of the Friends of the Library, a room was named after Muriel Matters, the South Australian suffragist who became the first woman to 'speak' in the House of Commons. My thanks go to all MPs and MLCs who attended, the member for Bragg in her role as co-chair of the Friends, and especially to you, Mr Speaker, for assisting with the unveiling. Thanks too to everyone who has embraced Muriel's story and realised the value of her example of commitment to participatory democracy and her passion for the right to vote.

As many here will know, Muriel Matters was largely unheard of until July 2008, when the initial work of the Muriel Matters Society began. Now in its fifth year, the society continues to raise awareness of Muriel's life, work and philosophies. Everyone associated with the Muriel Matters Society is grateful for this naming honour and to all concerned for making the gesture, which is greatly appreciated by Muriel's family. In appreciation, an original Women's Freedom League postcard has been donated to display in the room as a permanent acknowledgement of the day and of Muriel's lifelong interest in education and its power to change lives.

It is for that reason that it is very appropriate for a space in such a place to be dedicated to Muriel. It is also important to acknowledge the assistance of Dr Coral Stanley and her staff, particularly Dr John Weste, Sandy Kane, and former library staff David and Alex for their pioneering work.

It is fitting that it was this week, the week remembering the beginning of the calamity that became World War I, the Great War, for there is a special link between Muriel and the Gallipoli landings. While most of us know about the landing on the day of 25 April, few speak of the second push, commanded by British Lieutenant General Frederick Stopford, which landed at Suvla Bay in darkness on the evening of 6 August against light opposition. It is exactly 100 years today.

From what I have been able to establish, the advance inland was not forced through and little more than the beach was seized. The ensuing delay allowed the Ottomans to occupy the Anafarta Hills, leading to the situation becoming another costly stalemate. An ANZAC attack in the early hours of 7 August was undertaken at Lone Pine to capture the main trench in a diversion to draw the enemy forces away from the main assaults. This was a brave group of soldiers, and among them was Charles Adams Matters, Muriel's brother.

He was born in Port Augusta on 20 October 1885 and enlisted on 4 September 1914 at the age of almost 29. On his papers he states he was a vet surgeon. He was not married, but family stories tell of a girlfriend who was crushed by his death, for he was the love of her life. Charles' field service papers tell us that he was a sergeant in the 6th Battalion AI on 7 August 1915, the day he was killed in action.

A report in his Australian Imperial Force file says it was either 6 or 7 August, so it is 99 years today. It says that 'he was killed in a charge on a German officers' trench. He was in C Company and part of the 4th or 6th reinforcements. A witness saw him after he was shot, right through the head, when he died instantly. They cannot say if his body was ever recovered'.

We also learn that Charles was batman to Lieutenant Dyett, 7th AIF, who was his great friend. Lieutenant Gilbert Dyett was on Gallipoli in April and was wounded at Lone Pine on 7 August, probably in the same engagement where Charles died. Lieutenant Dyett was so badly hurt that he was covered and left for dead but was later rescued. He was told he would never walk again but, happily, that was not the case. He eventually died in 1964 after a long association with the RSL and many other institutions.

A further account of Charles’s death comes from research of the records of the British Red Cross, which gives us the first example of Muriel’s handwriting from her inquiries for further information about the death of her brother. The account she received tells us that Charles was 'in the charge on the German Officers’ Trench between Johnston’s Jolly and the Check Board on 6 August'.

Members interjecting:

Ms BEDFORD: This is about the war, and I am sure that members would be interested to hear it.

The first attack was made at midnight just after they reached Turk’s trench. He fell mortally wounded. It was necessary to retire then and a second attack at 3.30 that morning was no more successful. They then took up their position in a sap and the next day, through the periscope, it was noticed that the Turks were seen to be throwing out the bodies, Matters being picked out owing to his heavy moustache. He appeared to have been stripped and witnesses did not observe the Turks burying the body.

Charles’s name is therefore inscribed on the monument at Lone Pine.

Families also make many great sacrifices in the war and often receive terrible news, such as that we have just heard, and we owe them a great debt of gratitude as well. Many families are taking advantage of the excellent services and the website of the Australian War Memorial and the work of director Dr Brendan Nelson and his staff.

War and history teach us many things and, through my association with veterans, I know that while they serve their country willingly, they know first hand the futility of war. In this sombre week of observances, we reinforce our gratitude and will never forget the sacrifice that Charles and so many others have made in that engagement on 7 August 1915, and every other soldier through every engagement in all wars.

Today is also Hiroshima Day, so let us be mindful of the necessity to do our part to make world peace a reality. It was one of Muriel’s aims through her activities with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and something that we, in turn, must also do whatever we can to influence.

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