Page 1072 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 25 March 2015
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Centenary of Anzac
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.02): I move:
That this Assembly:
(1) notes:
(a) that 25 April 2015 marks the centenary of Anzac;
(b) the significance of Canberra as the National Capital and home of the Australian War Memorial in commemorating the centenary of Anzac;
(c) the service and sacrifice made by the men and women of the Australian Defence Force over the past 100 years;
(d) the ongoing contribution of ADF members to peacekeeping missions and conflicts around the globe;
(e) the significant number of Canberrans who are currently serving or have served in our Defence Force;
(f) the sacrifices made by Defence families; and
(g) the important role played by Ex Service Organisations in supporting veterans and their families in Canberra and their contribution to our community; and
(2) commemorates the sacrifice of those Australians who have lost their lives or been wounded in war and express its support for the defence community in Canberra comprising ADF members, defence families, veterans and Ex Service Organisations.
Members, in one month’s time we will all pause at about this time to remember the Anzacs and reflect on their legacy after 100 years. As there is no sitting day prior to that special moment, it is appropriate that we take the opportunity today in the Assembly to pay our respects and commemorate that occasion.
The Anzac centenary is a milestone of special significance to all Australians. Gallipoli in many ways has helped define us as a people and as a nation. We should not just remember the original Anzacs who served at Gallipoli but also those who served on the Western Front, and commemorate more than a century of service by Australian service men and women.
The story of the Anzacs is a remarkable one, and it has been told many times—how, on the morning of 25 April 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops amongst others made a landing on a hostile shore along the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey. Some saw it as Australia’s “baptism of fire” and “the birth of nationhood”.
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