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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-04-29 Daily Xml
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ANZAC EVE YOUTH VIGIL

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Emergency Services a question about emergency services participation in the ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The emergency services cadets joined with other young people in the ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil ceremony last week. Our young people are increasingly realising the importance of the ANZAC—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Mr President, it is almost 50 minutes before we have come to our second question because of the disgraceful behaviour of those opposite. I think it is important that you give us a little protection.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: It has taken 50 minutes, you clowns. You are an absolute disgrace, the whole lot of you!

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Simpleton? Last session you told everyone over here to get out of the gutter. It just shows the elitism of members opposite—their born to rule mentality. You are an absolute disgrace!

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The ANZAC vigil is an important issue, Mr President, and all they can do is mock it.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Wortley.

An honourable member: He sat down.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Wortley.

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Stephens!

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: This language goes beyond sensible interjection. The insults within the chamber, calling a person 'stupid' and 'an idiot'—

The PRESIDENT: Order! If the honourable Mr Wortley does not get to his question, I will sit him down.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Our young people are increasingly realising the importance of the ANZAC sacrifice and tradition. Will the minister provide some details about this year's participation?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:26): As we know, Friday 25 April again marked the day we pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Taking the time to recognise and reflect on that sacrifice is a very important tradition, and we are fortunate that young South Australians realise the importance of this tradition. It is a tradition that belongs to all Australians, despite age or cultural heritage.

As I advised members last year, the ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil brings together the youth of our community in a spirit of remembrance. On Thursday evening, 24 April, from 6pm until 6am on ANZAC Day, young people between the ages of 13 and 18 conduct a formal 'holding ground ceremony'.

Young people representing a variety of service and community groups take part, with a change of guard every 30 minutes. During the evening, his Excellency the Governor, Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, joined the youth vigil participants. Prior to dawn, the youth guard handed over to the Defence Force Catafalque Party and the traditional dawn service followed.

The youth vigil has been held since 2000, inspired by young people at that time, and I am proud that this year 10 Country Fire Service and 11 State Emergency Service cadets took part. They were, from the CFS: Michael Andersson and Ryan Todd from the Sedan Brigade; Adam Byrne, Jake Holmes, Braden Selby, Nathan Ayres and Sam Ayres from Meningie; and Ellen-Louise Hills, Dwayne Martin and Jack-Henry Hills from the Tailem Bend Brigade. From the SES: Nick Jensen, Danica Mazzeo, John Taliana, Juntee Zwar-Potts, Alex Button, Imogen Guthrie, Kim Marshall and Stuart Ball from the Eastern Unit. From the Edinburgh Unit: Rashelle Krikke, Bronwyn Knott and Jason Williams.

A number of these cadets have participated in the vigil on previous occasions. I would also like to acknowledge young members from Surf Lifesaving South Australia who participated in the vigil: Thomas and Caitlin Gray from the Southport Club and Nick Rodger from Grange. Other satellite vigils were held by CFS cadets at the Morphett Vale ANZAC Memorial, the Kangarilla RSL and the Blackwood RSL and, indeed, vigils may well have occurred at other locations around the state organised at a local level.

I ask members to thank and acknowledge these young people who took the time to remember and reflect on those who served and, in particular, those who died to protect our nation and our way of life. I also thank the cadet leaders who accompanied the cadets and kept a very careful eye on their welfare.

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