Page 5041 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 26 October 2010
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Given the importance of veterans matters to this government, the Chief Minister takes primary carriage of the oversight of matters relating to veterans. In the current Chief Minister’s term, he has been honoured to take part in a number of significant ACT initiatives that recognise our veterans and their importance to the ACT community.
The battle of Lone Pine was launched by the 1st Brigade AIF on 6 August 1915. It lasted for four days and resulted in more than 2,000 Australian and more than 5,000 Turkish casualties. Seven Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross for their deeds over the course of those four bloody days. It has a very important place in Australian military history.
In recognition of this, on 4 September 2008, on the 93rd anniversary of the battle of Lone Pine ridge at Gallipoli, a most significant planting was held at the arboretum. Attended by the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister, as well as the Turkish ambassador and the President of the RSL, 17 Lone Pine seedlings donated by the Turkish embassy were planted at the arboretum. They were grown from seed of the commemorative “Lone Pine” planted in 1934 at the Australian War Memorial. The planting of these trees recognised the contribution made by these heroes of our past and they will have their own track worn to their base by Australians who want to stand there and reflect for a moment on what occurred so long ago in another place. They will be a lasting tribute to our veterans’ sacrifice. The ACT is proud to recognise our veterans in such a tangible way.
In a little over two weeks, the Chief Minister will be hosting another event at the Canberra International Arboretum. On 12 November, the Chief Minister, along with members of the RSL and kindred organisations, will meet at the arboretum to participate in the planting of a forest of Lone Pine trees. This is planned to be located close to the initial ceremonial site of the Lone Pine plantings and is expected to involve the planting of over 200 trees, again a fitting tribute to our nation’s veterans.
On 10 August 2006, the ACT Chief Minister dedicated the ACT memorial as a place for contemplation, reflection, awareness, commemoration, gatherings and ceremony. The ACT memorial honours men and women who have had association with the ACT and who served in conflicts, peace-making missions and related service throughout the world, some of whom made the supreme sacrifice.
The memorial has two parts: the physical memorial, located opposite Civic Square on London Circuit, and the ACT memorial website, containing the database of names and information about people honoured by the memorial. The ACT memorial was designed by Canberra artist Matthew Harding, incorporating representations of the world and the overarching goal of peace, and provides a quiet place for remembrance and contemplation. In dedicating the ACT memorial, the Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, said:
… the ACT Memorial, commissioned by the Government, redressed a long neglect.
While the national capital is a city replete with memorials, there has never been a memorial to those of our fellow Canberrans who have served and sacrificed so much for their country and their community …
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