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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-11-03 Daily Xml
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Remembrance Day

Mrs HURN (Schubert) (15:14): After four years of warfare and the deaths of millions of civilians and military, the guns on the Western Front finally fell silent on 11am on 11 November 1918. It marked the end of the First World War, a war in which more than 60,000 Australians lost their lives; 156,000 Australians were wounded, gassed or taken prisoner from a country of fewer than five million people at that time. These selfless Australians fought for their country and many paid the ultimate sacrifice. Since then, countries including Australia and New Zealand and Canada and the United States recognise 11 November as the annual day to commemorate those who lost their lives in battle.

On Remembrance Day, all Australians are urged to observe one minute's silence on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month each year. It is a moment to remember and reflect upon the sacrifice and the courage of those who fought so hard to keep us free. A silence falls across the nation, flags are lowered to half mast, the traditional red poppy or sometimes a sprig of rosemary is worn with pride, and we solemnly stand for the reading of the ode taken from the poem For the Fallen by Lawrence Binyon. The Last Post sends shivers down our spine.

It is also a time to reflect on the wars which really have shaped civilisation, wars which have ultimately changed lives and, of course, we commemorate those brave men and women who tragically lost their lives protecting our nation. Right in this very moment, we are seeing countries right across the world locked in a desperate and terrible conflict, with mounting casualties and devastation.

We must remember our past to avoid these horrible circumstances, and it can often feel as though perhaps we have learned very little from the tragedies of those gone by. As Sir Winston Churchill famously said, 'Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.' So on Remembrance Day, let's remember our history, let's tell our stories and keep alive this tradition for generations to come so that we never forget and that we always strive for peace.

The gratitude that I feel for the sacrifice of those Australians and that my community and my colleagues in this place no doubt feel is really quite hard to put into words. I also recognise that serving in Australia's armed forces is a serious commitment and, from the bottom of my heart, I thank those South Australians who are current members of our ADF or who have served in the past. I also acknowledge the important work of many ex-service organisations that provide support to our veteran community and their families. We often know that transitioning from military life can be a really tough and difficult period for veterans and their entire communities. It is critical that they have access to quality support and services to help them through this tough transition period.

I would like to express my deep thanks to all the RSLs across the state and in my local community of Schubert for the work they do, not only for our veterans and for the families of those who have not returned but for their dedication put into conducting Remembrance Day services right across the state. They are an amazing marker of respect for those who have fought so hard for us, and I am very much looking forward to attending and commemorating this very special day next Friday. As we do approach Remembrance Day, let's take the time to reflect. Lest we forget.

Recently, I have also had the opportunity of attending so many local school graduations. It is such an exciting time for these students, their families, their schools and teachers, because they are on the cusp of something that is pretty exciting. We know that our school exam period is often daunting and stressful, and I wish all of the students in my local community all the very best for their upcoming exams and for whatever is to come.

I had the particular pleasure of attending my alma mater, which is Nuriootpa High School, where I presented the Schubert public speaking award. That was a particular source of pride for me to see people who are passionate people still coming through Nuriootpa High School. I wish everyone all the best.

Time expired.

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