Page 1255 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 7 May 2014
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The second event I attended was the 10 am march on the actual day—the 25th. As always, the march and ceremony were wonderful events. Thousands of people turned out with ceremonies being held at the Australian War Memorial. I was proud to be able to march for my grandfather, who served in the 6th Light Horse about a century ago. Of course, the 6th played an important role in Europe and Africa. Also they served in Romani, Egypt, the famous battle of Beersheba, in Jerusalem, in Jordan, Es Salt, in Amman and also in Palestine. They stayed on for another year after the war to support the area as a policing force.
Later in the day I was able to represent the Chief Minister again at the French Embassy for a ceremony that they hold each year to pay homage on behalf of the French people to the service men and women who have participated in war. The Republic of France and Australia have had a relatively intertwined military history since Federation. They have been involved in many conflicts together on both French soil and abroad as participants in war and peacekeeping forces.
During both World War I and World War II Australian forces participated in the defence of France from the Axis and Central powers. One village in France in particular acknowledges this relationship and the sacrifice many Australian service people made on French soil. In Villers-Bretonneux, just east of Amiens in the north of France, there is a large memorial which commemorates and provides a symbolic resting place for all Australians who died protecting the town from 1916 until the end of the First World War and who never received a proper burial. At this site each year Anzac Day is commemorated by locals, Australian visitors and expats alike. It is a service and a site which I would love to attend one day.
I wish to thank the French Embassy and Charge D’Affaires Cedric Prieto for the organisation of the wreath-laying ceremony. I would also like to thank, in no particular order, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, representing the Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Air Vice-Marshal Kevin Short, New Zealand Vice Chief of Defence Force, Mr Paul Madden, United Kingdom High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Chris Seed, New Zealand High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Jean-Luc Bodson, Ambassador for Belgium, Reha Keskintepe, Ambassador for Turkey, and finally Mr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial.
As always, I hope that the reflection which is undertaken on Anzac Day each year helps us to better understand conflict and, in turn, how to prevent conflict within and outside Australia in the future.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 6.47 pm.
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