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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-04 Daily Xml
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ARMENIAN-AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (17:37): I move:

That this council recognises that the Armenian genocide is one of the greatest crimes against humanity and—

1. joins the members of the Armenian-Australian community in honouring the memory of the innocent men, women and children who fell victim to this genocide;

2. condemns the genocide of the Armenians and all other acts of genocide as the ultimate act of racial, religious and cultural intolerance;

3. recognises the importance of remembering and learning from such dark chapters in human history to ensure that such crimes against humanity are not allowed to be repeated;

4. acknowledges the significant humanitarian contribution made by the people of South Australia to the victims and survivors of the Armenian genocide; and

5. calls on the commonwealth government to officially condemn the genocide of the Armenians.

Last August, I attended an exhibition called An SOS from Beyond Gallipoli. The event unveiled part of Armenia's history, which many people do not know about. As members know, I assist the Leader of the Opposition in another place in his role as shadow minister of multicultural affairs. A couple of Italian and Greek families lived permanently in my country community of Bordertown, and a family from Finland lived there briefly, as I was reminded by one of my old school friends. However, we had very little multicultural exposure, so I had no real understanding of the issue of the Armenian genocide.

This exhibition portrayed the humanitarian and charitable efforts undertaken by Australians almost a century ago and was of particular relevance to South Australia because one of the people at the cornerstone of those efforts was a South Australian.

On 25 April the nation stops to honour the lives of those who fell or fought during the landings under fire at Gallipoli. Many do not know that, at that time, a genocide of Armenians had begun, claiming over a million victims and many more refugees. We commemorate the anniversary of that genocide on 24 April.

I am grateful to be in an ongoing working relationship with the Armenian community. The Armenian National Committee is dedicated to a campaign which advocates recognition of the genocide, and today's motion is also a tribute to its tireless efforts on behalf of the Armenian community. Such work is imperative to our growth as a multicultural community.

In Australia, we have an Armenian-Australian community of about 50,000 and, for many, the two year genocide is a very real memory. Many lost their entire family. I will speak of the relief effort in further detail. An orphanage, established under the fund, cared for many children who were later fostered by everyday Australians. Those people especially join with us today in honouring the lives of the men, women and children who were claimed by this genocide.

It began with the arrest of some 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders and quickly led to the uprooting of Armenian families without discrimination. Those taken were forced to trek mercilessly through the barren deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia without food or water.

Physical and sexual assault were regular occurrences throughout the ordeal. For those who did not die throughout the ordeal, it ended in massacre. Women and children suffered the worst of the dehumanisation, and people fell in their hundreds of thousands. Families who were not torn apart immediately were forced to watch each other suffer. A small remnant of the Armenian homeland remained devastated by war and was populated largely by starving refugees.

We honour the memory of those innocent victims and pass on our respect to those who survived this tragic stage of Armenian history and now live to share those memories with family, friends and the wider community. As a member of parliament I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to learn about this piece of history, and I feel that acknowledging the event within parliament is appropriate.

It goes without saying that such acts as the Armenian genocide epitomise prejudices against race, religion and culture. For most Australians those attitudes are difficult to comprehend but, unfortunately, they remain commonplace in many societies today. The memory of this stage of history was buried, and the remnants of the Armenian culture were either desecrated or misnamed.

Our role as Australians is to harbour attitudes and support policies which are completely opposed to any forms of racial, religious or cultural vilification. In supporting those freedoms as individuals, families, states and nations we contribute to the battle against global injustices. Raising awareness of past acts of intolerance is a most important step in preventing a repetition of those atrocities. We are able to learn about the hardships suffered only once we accept the events for what they were and the attitudes that spurred them.

As an individual, attending the exhibition last year was a step in my personal understanding of the Armenian situation. Subsequently, I am able to lead the parliament in recognising it at a state level and urging our commonwealth government to do the same. I am aware that the New South Wales parliament has already passed a similar motion and, once again, I commend the Armenian National Committee for instigating these motions. The essence of learning from these events is that something good can transpire from such a tragedy.

On that note, I would like to recognise South Australia's role in the first major international humanitarian relief effort. As was the case for the genocide itself, that effort was not broadly publicised. In slipping under the radar of public recognition, a lifetime of the work of an important South Australian also went relatively unnoticed in the public domain; that was the late Reverend James Edwin Cresswell. We commend many South Australians within this parliament in recognising an individual to whom many lives are owed and who deserves to be considered with great importance.

Reports of atrocities gradually came out and were eventually disseminated throughout the world, leading to a number of prominent leaders and organisations establishing fundraising drives, which were amalgamated into the Armenian Relief Fund. By 1922 the late reverend became national secretary of the fund. He had already dedicated much to international missions and held ministries throughout Adelaide.

It is clear that he established great networks in his home town of Adelaide. However, upon receiving his posting as secretary, he recognised that an oversight of the fund was not sufficient, and he wanted to give a hands on effort. Calling on his experiences as an overseas missionary, Reverend Cresswell travelled to the Near East and delivered aid to the suffering Armenians. He saw over 6,000 refugees living in caves and was moved and shaken by what he saw. He continued on to visit the Australasian orphanage in Beirut.

At this time, there were some 1,200 Armenian orphaned children in the facility. The reverend visited orphanages in Jerusalem and Armenia. By the end of those visits his understanding of the impact of the genocide would probably have been nearer to those who have experienced at first hand. His bravery in that sense is rare and truly remarkable.

Reverend Cresswell was not discriminatory in where he directed his efforts, and he took time to pay respect to the Anzac graves. In a monetary sense, the reverend also provided invaluable resources. He donated an ambulance in Athens to the Greek community, which was also funded by the South Australian branch of the fund.

In 1923 alone, the fund had an income of over £10,000. I think that is an interesting point: £10,000 in 1923 was a significant amount of money. The fund also had £4,000 in goods. The South Australian branch of this relief fund was considerable, and those who contributed then must be commended. Those involved in the relief effort are certainly deserving of our deepest respect and gratitude. They did not take part with any expectation of thanks or acknowledgement.

In moving this motion, I call on the commonwealth parliament to join with the states in order to recognise as a nation the Armenian genocide and make a strong statement about the expression of freedom in all cultural, religious and racial respects. With those few words, I commend the motion to the council. I know that it is short notice but, given that 24 April is the anniversary of the events that occurred in Armenia, I ask that we conclude the debate on the next Wednesday of sitting so that the Legislative Council carries the motion prior to that date.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. T.J. Stephens.

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