Page 1833 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 May 2010
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There were a great many people at the dinner and I do not have time to mention them all, but I pass on my thanks to the president of the sub-branch, Peter Collas. It was a great night enjoyed by all. Sadly, the numbers are thinning. The names of those who had passed from the sub-branch were read out at the dinner, sadly many of them being World War II veterans. A great number of names were read out, and that was very sad to hear.
The next day, Anzac Day, I had the great honour of marching with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. There is a loose affiliation—a brotherhood, should I say—between the Training Team Vietnam, and the Australian Army Training Team Iraq. They have made me most welcome in their ranks on Anzac Day. I think it is, in part, a conspiracy that, as they get a little bit longer in the tooth, I will be there to push their wheelchairs up Anzac Parade. The Australian Army Training Team Vietnam is probably one of the more distinguished Australian Army units. It was the longest serving unit in Vietnam; it was the first unit in and the last unit out, and all four Victoria Crosses that were awarded in that conflict were awarded to members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. To march with those guys is a fantastic honour, and I would just like to pass on my thanks to a couple—Simon Hearder and Ian Gollings, a couple of great guys.
I was then invited by the Belconnen sub-branch of the RSL to join them for lunch, and they gave me the honour of speaking after lunch. That was another great group of men and women. There were a lot of service men and women, but also their partners were there. It was a wonderful event, great comradeship, and they made me most welcome. I would like to pass on my thanks to all the members of the Belconnen sub-branch of the RSL, in particular, their president, Mac Weller, for their wonderful hospitality.
Although Anzac Day has passed, let us not just remember our veterans on that day; let us remember that while we are sitting here in the relative comfort of the Legislative Assembly our service men and women are out there on patrol in Oruzgan province in Afghanistan risking their lives for us, as they are elsewhere across the globe.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 6.43 pm.
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