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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-05-18 Daily Xml
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ANZAC Day Dawn Service

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister inform the chamber about this year's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ANZAC Day dawn service?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Attorney-General, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in this area. This year, the ANZAC Day dawn service at the War Memorial on North Terrace before the ANZAC Day service at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander memorial had the theme of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services, focusing on remembering the often unacknowledged sacrifice of Aboriginal men and women who defended their country.

The RSL in South Australia hosted the commemoration on North Terrace with the assistance of Aboriginal Veterans SA, and some moving stories were shared about the many Aboriginal men and women who had served their country. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were involved in this year's dawn service, including Aboriginal Army Chaplain Ivan Grant from New South Wales, veteran Uncle Frank Lampard, Flight Lieutenant Steve Warrior, an Aboriginal man currently serving in the Air Force, and the Welcome to Country was very well performed by Jack Buckskin on ANZAC Day on North Terrace. A moving performance was given by Tony Minniecon of Vonda Last's song, For Love of Country.

It was particularly significant to see the entire catafalque party standing guard at the service, being all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service members. For the last few years, many have also gathered after the dawn service on North Terrace at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial at the Torrens Parade Ground to specifically acknowledge and remember the contribution of so many Aboriginal servicemen and women.

It is difficult to know exact numbers of those Aboriginal people who served due to historic policies at times gone by dissuading or outright refusing to allow Aboriginal people to enlist, leading to many Aboriginal people being silent on their heritage in order to serve. It is estimated that over a thousand Aboriginal people enlisted during the First World War and well over three times that number during the Second World War. Aboriginal people have served in Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan as well as in peacekeeping missions. I saw it reported that Aboriginal people have served in every conflict Australia has been involved in since Federation.

The memorial at the Torrens Parade Ground acknowledges the service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in all these wars and, as I said, many peacekeeping missions. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial was established in 2006 by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial Committee as prior to that there was no major memorial recognising such service of Aboriginal people. The chair of the committee, Marj Tripp, led an effort over seven years to erect the memorial, which was finally unveiled in 2013.

The trailblazing committee was made up of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal veterans and friends, including Marj Tripp AO, Frank Lampard OAM, Frank Clarke, Gil Green, Les Kropinyeri and Uncle Lewis O'Brien. Other committee members included Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue as the Vice Patron, Rosslyn Cox, Janine Haynes, Bill Hignett, Jennifer Layther, Alison Martens, Michael Mummery, Ian Smith, Jock Statton and Mark Waters.

Further to the work of this committee, there was also an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander War Memorial appeal made up of a group of prominent South Australians who raised funds for this memorial. The appeal was co-chaired by Sir Eric Neale and Bill Denny. The memorial itself was designed and created by Lee-Ann Tjunypa Buckskin, Tony Rosella, Michelle Nikou, Tim Thomson and Robert Hannaford and is situated at a significant place for the Kaurna people beside the Torrens.

I hope this focus on acknowledging the service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, especially in light of many of the injustices faced at the time and ongoing today, continues in ANZAC services to come.

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