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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-06-06 Daily Xml
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ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:46): It is with great honour that I rise today to speak about the state RSL ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil ceremony. I was given the privilege of formally representing the Leader of the Opposition, Peter Malinauskas, member for Croydon, at the event on Tuesday 24 April at the National War Memorial monument on North Terrace, Adelaide. Also in attendance at this event was the Governor His Excellency the Hon. Hieu Van Le, the Hon. Michelle Lensink and the Hon. Emily Bourke, among other dignitaries.

The state RSL ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil ceremony is made up of 10 youth organisations, including the St John Ambulance, the Australian Army Cadets, Girl Guides Australia, Girls' Brigade South Australia, Scouts Australia, Surf Life Saving SA, SA Country Fire Service cadets, SA Emergency Service cadets, Australian Air Force Cadets and the Boys' Brigade South Australia, which conducted the 12-hour vigil that concluded just prior to the dawn service the next morning.

The vigil was held to acknowledge and commemorate the hard work and sacrifice of those who served in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in World War I, and to remember the fallen soldiers who did not make it home to see their families.

ANZAC Day, of course, is a time to remember those who have served to keep Australia safe and those who fought for our freedoms. We live in times where, unfortunately, military tensions and uncertainty are still a factor. Young men and women across the globe, including the Australian armed forces, make such an enormous sacrifice and commitment to our country and safety, and for that I am thankful.

Additionally, I would like to give credit to the young volunteers from the many youth organisations present at the vigil. These young adults braved the cold temperatures—and it was quite cold—in solemn respect for fallen Australian soldiers. These young adults from the St John Ambulance, the Australian Army Cadets, Girl Guides Australia, Scouts Australia, Surf Life Saving SA and the other organisations I previously mentioned gave up their time and effort and forfeited their time to honour the service men and women.

That type of commitment amongst our youth is not always shown these days, and for that I commend their actions. At times it is possible that many forget the sacrifices and cost of war, the toll it takes on people and country. Ceremonies like the 2018 state RSL ANZAC Eve Youth Vigil ceremony, which pay respect to our fallen service men and women, serve as a reminder of this sacrifice and the sacrifice that others have made to protect us and our freedoms.

Again, I would like to thank the Returned and Services League of Australia (SA Branch) and the South Australian National War Memorial for all their hard work, the efforts of the 10 youth organisations who gave up their time to honour the fallen soldiers and, most importantly, the service men and women serving in the Australian armed forces.

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