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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-04-30 Daily Xml
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ANZAC Day Commemoration Services

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (15:21): On 25 April 1915 at dawn, Australian and New Zealand soldiers landed in Gallipoli in Turkey. The objective was to drive through to Istanbul, take Turkey out of the war and provide supplies to Russia in its fight against Germany. During the Gallipoli campaign, it is estimated that 8,700 Australians and 2,700 New Zealanders were killed.

In July 1915, the very first Violet Day was held here in South Australia, a day to remember the war dead. The violet was chosen to honour all who had made sacrifices for their country. Fresh violets were sold to raise money to support returned soldiers. In all, around 100 women dressed in white carried trays of violets to sell throughout the city of Adelaide and raised over £700.

On 3 July 1915, The Advertiser reported that people gathered at the South African War Memorial, known then as the Soldiers' Memorial Statue, for speeches and a performance by the police band. The Governor, Sir Henry Galway, addressed attendees stressing remembrance and honouring of Australian troops and their sacrifice to Empire. He also told the crowd:

Today we not only honour the day, but our hearts go out with the deepest respect and sympathy to they who are mourning the loss of their nearest and dearest. The British Empire will never be able to repay the debt owed to the women for their calm, self sacrifice in this great struggle.

The Governor went on to say:

If any day is to be chosen for Australia's day, I think it should be April 25. Those heroes will hand down the finest traditions to their sons and their sons' sons and still further on.

In 1916, Australia's acting Prime Minister, George Pearce, officially named 25 April as ANZAC Day. The first ANZAC Day commemorations were held on 25 April 1916 throughout Australia and elsewhere in the world.

South Australia is one of the only states in Australia to have an ANZAC Day Commemoration Act, an act that enshrines in legislation the commemoration of ANZAC Day on 25 April and declares it as a day of national significance. Last Thursday was 25 April, it was ANZAC Day, and commemorations occurred throughout my community, throughout the nation and throughout the world.

On ANZAC eve, the Upper Sturt Soldiers Memorial Hall committee hosted its ANZAC eve celebration. The Upper Sturt Soldiers Memorial Hall was opened on 14 December 1935 in memory of the fallen. The event hosted many members of our community. Whilst they were entering the police band was playing. Members of the police band, some who lived locally, chose to come and share their talents with us. The service was hosted by Dr John Halsey and the ode was delivered by retired Lt Colonel 'Moose' Dunlop OAM.

A supper was provided by the hall committee, allowing the community to share stories and company. I would like to thank all of the hall committee, members of the SA Police band and all who came along to show their respect for many who lost their lives whilst protecting our community.

Whilst this was occurring, young people from all over my community were gathering at the Blackwood Uniting Church, readying themselves to begin the long night of Holding Ground at the soldiers' memorial as a part of the ANZAC vigil.

There were St John cadets, Scouts and Venturer Scouts from Belair, Blackwood, Eden Hills and Rover Scouts from Attunga Rovers, as well as our CFS cadets, all showing their respect by protecting the soldier. I was very privileged to spend some time with some of them and was heartened to see their commitment to why they were there. It was a very cold evening and they all did a wonderful job, and I want to let them know that, and thank them for being there in such a special way.

With the sun fast approaching, community members headed to various sites across the community. I would like to thank Dr Peter Cahalan who was kind to represent me at the Mitcham RSL, and also my sister Joanna Tan who attended the service at the Repat, both laying wreaths on my behalf. I, along with more than 3,000 people, attended the Blackwood ANZAC service, which was hosted by the Blackwood RSL. Every year the service gets bigger and bigger as it sprawls around the roundabout to nearby streets, and it is so lovely to see the community sharing in this special occasion.

Representatives from many of our schools, both senior and primary, laid wreaths, along with members of many of our community groups. Students from Hawthorndene primary read sentimental words of a poem reminding us about the ultimate sacrifice many soldiers and their families gave.

There were some technical difficulties; however, it did not stop the thousands of people from coming to the event and hundreds more coming to the Blackwood RSL for a gunfire breakfast. It was a wonderful opportunity for community to come together and share a sausage in bread, a bacon-and-egg sanga, a nip of rum in their coffee and stories that they hold dear. Thanks to the volunteers both at the service and at the RSL for coming along.

At 9am, another ANZAC service began in Coromandel Valley hosted by the Coromandel Valley community centre in collaboration with the Blackwood RSL. The sun had well and truly risen and was providing a bit of warmth as we remembered the fallen. With a bagpiper, a live bugler, along with a very talented Alzanne Eksteen who sang the national anthems for both New Zealand and Australia, we paid our respects.

ANZAC Day is a very special occasion within my community and I was very glad to spend it with them and remembering our fallen. Lest we forget.

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