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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-11-13 Daily Xml
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Purple Poppy Day

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (17:06): I move:

That this council—

1. Notes that 24 February 2019 commemorated Australia’s inaugural national Purple Poppy Day, acknowledging the outstanding deeds and sacrifices our four-legged and feathered Diggers have made serving alongside our troops in all war conflicts;

2. Acknowledges the crucial contribution that animals make in all war conflicts for safety, transport, communication and companionship; and

3. Calls on the state government to work with other state governments and the commonwealth to ensure that national Purple Poppy Day is recognised as an annual commemorative event.

This week, we paused for a minute's silence to remember the fallen in world conflicts, with many attending ceremonies around the country and overseas proudly wearing the symbolic red poppy. My motion is proposing that, in this state, we also remember with a purple poppy other loyal servants of our Defence Force—those creatures great and small that also served: horses, dogs and pigeons.

Eight million horses, mules and donkeys and one million dogs died on both sides during the Great War. Animals continue to serve in places like Afghanistan, where explosive detection dogs and their handlers bravely work on the front line. Dogs served with distinction in Vietnam but, sadly, none were permitted to return.

You might recall that last year we passed a motion honouring the deeds of Digger, the bulldog that served in the worst theatres of World War I, and Bill the Bastard, the famed Australian Light Horse which was a hero on the battlefield against the Turks at Gallipoli and then the Battle of Romani. Both were awarded the UK's Blue Cross, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

Earlier this year, the Hon. Terry Stephens and I were honoured to be invited to the West Croydon and Kilkenny RSL Club, where the Blue Cross was presented to the proud family of Digger's handler, Sergeant Harold Martin of the First Company Signal Corps, who was South Australia's first World War I volunteer.

This was all due to the efforts of a wonderful organisation known as the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation (AWAMO), started by a former Defence member and dog handler, Nigel Allsopp. Mr Allsopp is also the president and recent ANZAC of the Year Award winner. His organisation states that:

Australian war animals have demonstrated true valour and an enduring partnership with humans. The bond is unbreakable, their sacrifice great.

Mr Allsopp has been leading the push for Australia to have February 24 declared as Purple Poppy Day, in recognition of the animals which served. In 2013, the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation introduced the purple poppy to Australia. It is sometimes referred to as the 'animal poppy' Purple poppies are designed to be worn alongside the traditional red one as a reminder of their bravery and that both humans and animals served together. Mr Allsopp said:

…the 24th of February or purple poppy day is a day all Australians can wear a purple poppy and a time to think not only about our soldiers who gave their lives in war, but also spare a thought for the four-legged and winged heroes that fought and died alongside our troops.

Funds raised from donations and the sale of purple poppies are used by the AWAMO to establish memorials. They also fund training of support animals to help soldiers with post-traumatic stress and provide care packages, including paying for the care of war animals retired from service due to illness, injury and old age after active service.

In November last year in federal parliament, the member for Wright, Scott Buchholz, dedicated 24 February 2019 as the first National Day for War Animals in Australia. On that day, I laid a wreath at Digger the Dog's magnificent stone memorial at the West Croydon and Kilkenny RSL Club. I am hoping the occasion becomes more widespread, and I will be encouraging all our RSL clubs to take up the cause and recognise the deeds of those four-legged and feathered diggers who served and still continue to serve. The UK and New Zealand also have a national day to honour war animals.

Last month, the Western Australian Minister for Veterans Issues, the Hon. Peter Tinley, also announced that his state would recognise the National Day for War Animals in Australia on Monday 24 February 2020. In a letter to Western Australia's AWAMO representative, Mr Tinley said that military working dogs saved many lives in recent conflicts and had earned their place in our military history and therefore deserved recognition.

Western Australia has launched the Veterans and Families Strategy, in which commemoration acknowledging service and sacrifice of previous generations to deepen all of Australia's understanding of our nation's history is one of the main themes. Purple Poppy Day is now included in that category.

I will be asking our Premier, as the minister representing veterans, to follow suit and declare Purple Poppy Day in South Australia from 2020. I will encourage all honourable members to next year join me in recognition of our animals of war and wear a purple poppy, which will be made available to us by Mr Allsopp's organisation. I commend this motion to the Legislative Council.

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

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