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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-04 Daily Xml
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DARWIN DEFENDERS

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:45): We all acknowledge that the ANZAC tradition belongs to those who fought in Gallipoli, but today I will pay special tribute to the Darwin Defenders. I have had the honour since becoming a member of parliament of attending a number of Darwin Defenders services. This year, on Saturday 19 February 2011, I was pleased to represent the government at the commemoration service for the bombing of Darwin held at the Repatriation General Hospital.

In Australia, Darwin bore the brunt of the Second World War, and this year I understand there was a special ANZAC Day focus on Darwin. Many veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam travelled to Darwin, most of them on the Ghan, via Alice Springs. Members of the Darwin Defenders 1942-45 SA branch continue to commemorate this important event in our nation's history, which occurred 68 years ago. The commitment of the members, and in particular Mr Ray Buttery OAM, the State Chairman of the Darwin Defenders, is to be commended.

The defenders well understand the importance of commemorating and recording history, and it is a responsibility that is fulfilled with pride and enormous respect for those whom we remember. All of us, I know, would be aware of the historic significance of the bombing of Darwin. It was one of the most difficult times in our nation's history, but also one of the most heroic. Rightly so, there is the view that this time in our history did not initially get the recognition it deserved.

The main target was the 45 ships in port at the time. By the time the first raid was over, three hospitals had been bombed and attacked; shops, offices and police barracks flattened; the post office and the communications centre shattered; Government House wrecked; and the harbour and airfields left burning and in ruins. Figures from investigations tell us that some 300 to 320 people were killed, and 297 were never accounted for. The first raid was on 19 February 1942 and, over the next 21 months until the last raid on 12 November 1943, bombing took place on 61 days.

The address on the day was given by Commander Michael Doherty ADC, RAN Navy HQ. Commander Doherty drew on the theme of fate for the address; more specifically, the heroism of those who defended Darwin with what was available, given the so many other theatres of war that Australia was involved in at that time. Commander Doherty gave a most touching example of a civilian postal worker who lost his life, along with his colleagues, in a bomb shelter he had helped to build. I will quote what he had to say about the death of postal worker Arthur Wellington:

In a letter to his wife written just days before the attack, Arthur described the assistance he had been giving to the Postmaster, Mr Hurtle Bald, in constructing a shelter behind the post office. He wrote: 'The depth is about five feet. We have galvanised iron across the top and hope to get another three layers of sandbags. Everyone says it will be safe from anything but a direct hit—it's where I'll be if there is going to be a raid.'

Commander Doherty told the gathering that Darwin's post office was located close to the harbour on the southern edge of the town. It received direct hits from the first wave of planes, one bomb striking a direct hit on the shelter constructed by Arthur, killing him and eight others instantly.

I was also pleased recently to represent the Premier, the Hon. Mike Rann MP, at the commemoration for ANZAC Day at Saint Peter's Cathedral on Sunday 17 April. Whatever gathering we were at this year, I will again borrow the words of Commander Doherty:

We gather here today to remember not only those that fell on this day in 1942 and in the 68 subsequent raids on Australian territory—we gather to remember and honour those who have fallen in the service of their country before and after these events and who continue to lay down their lives for their country today.

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