Kelly O'Dwyer (Higgins, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

In this year, the Centenary of Anzac, communities around Australia and indeed around the world have come together to mark and commemorate 100 years since the active involvement of Australia in the First World War.

The Great War, as World War 1 became known, was unlike any previous conflict known to man. On the battlefronts in both the East and West of Europe 19th century military strategy met 20th century technological advances with catastrophic consequences. Around the world more than 65 million marched to war with 8 million never to return home. As a young, small country, geographically isolated, and with very strong economic, diplomatic and cultural links to the British Isles, it was natural that Australians saw the defence of England—our greatest ally—as the defence of our own nation.

More than 416,000 Australians enlisted, including more than 5,000 men from those suburbs that now make up the electorate of Higgins. Overwhelmingly these men were not professional soldiers but volunteers with limited training. Many women also took an active part in the war, especially as nurses and in taking over jobs on the home front. In remembering the war we honour those people, their sacrifice and that of their families. We also reflect upon their extraordinary bravery, stoicism, fraternal loyalty and service to their country.

However, we also reflect upon the lasting effects the war had on entire communities and indeed Western society. However difficult to quantify, there can be no doubt that World War I irreversibly altered the course modern history; the geopolitical boundaries of Europe; the development of science, industry, medicine and psychiatry; our notions of nationality and patriotism; and indeed our very understanding of humanity itself.

Therefore, as is only appropriate, communities across Australia have been marking this moment in time and reflecting on what it means. In Higgins on the weekend before Anzac Day we held an extraordinary centenary march. The march was attended by·   His Excellency the Hon. Alex Chernov AC, QC, Governor of Victoria, accompanied by Mrs Elizabeth Chernov;·   the Stonnington mayor, Councillor Melina Sehr; the Chairman of the Victorian Anzac Centenary Committee, the Hon. Mr Ted Baillieu; the State President of the Victorian RSL, Major General David McLachlan; the Chairman of the Legacy Council of Australian, Mr Ian Harrison; the consuls general from the Turkish embassy and the British and New Zealand high commissions; and the magnificent Creswick Light Horse. Just as importantly, the march was also supported by thousands of individual community members and numerous local organisations including many schools; the Malvern East, Prahran, Toorak and Hellenic RSL sub-branches; and Stonnington City Brass. The weather was unfortunately inclement, but this only served to remind us of the unimaginable hardships borne 100 years ago. Once again I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to retired Lieutenant Colonel David Blackwell, chair of my Centenary of Anzac committee, for his extraordinary efforts in bringing this event to reality; and the members of my very hardworking Anzac centenary committee.

At the Higgins Centenary March I was pleased to announce that with the support of my Anzac centenary committee I was able to produce the Anzac Centenary Higgins Memorial Map. The map lists many existing World War I memorials in the Higgins electorate, together with new memorials which have been funded through the federal government's Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program. The map has been available to schools and community groups throughout this year to promote those lasting memorials of great service in my electorate of Higgins.

I am also proud that in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the landing of Gallipoli, and in my capacity as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, I was able to launch a new coloured coin, only the fourth in general circulation, as part of the Royal Australian Mint's Official Anzac Centenary Coin Program, where a collection of commemorative coins capture the history, service and sacrifice of Australians at war. This special coin depicts a centrally sculpted and emotive design. It features poppies, symbolic of remembrance, amongst crosses used to honour the fallen and mark the graves of the unknown heroes. Inspired by the poppy, the distinctive and powerful red coloured print encapsulates the solemn words, 'Lest we forget'.

Finally, as part of the commemorations of the Centenary of Anzac I recently held the Higgins Anzac Centenary School Poetry Competition. The theme of the poetry competition was, 'What does the Anzac Centenary mean to you?' and the panel of judges included Mr Michael Gleeson, editor of the Progress Leader and Stonnington Leader; representatives of local RSLs; and the Higgins Electorate Anzac Centenary Committee. There were four levels of entry: years 2 to 4, years 5 to 6, years 7 to 9 and years 10 to 12. I was delighted to announce that the winners were Ellie Martin from St Cecilia's Primary School, Narisha Ford from Black Rock Primary School, Gabby Tymms from St Catherine's School and Rafael Ungar from the King David School. This competition was open not only to local schools but to local residents—hence the winners. I am delighted that the competition was so well subscribed with so many beautiful entries. It clearly gave young people in my electorate an opportunity to focus on making personal connections with the momentous events of one century ago.

It is community events such as these that provide the opportunity for us to pause, recall, reflect and commemorate. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has said, 'Grief is the price we pay for love.' In coming together we remember the grief of family, friends, communities and nations, for lives irrevocably altered and lost and a world forever changed. However, we should also dwell upon love—love for our kin and for our mates and, importantly, our love of peace; not just love for our country and its freedoms, but also the love of a grateful nation. In this centenary year, I pay my respects today to all those who have served, and continue to serve, our nation both at home and overseas. I give thanks for their sacrifice while hoping for a more peaceful tomorrow.

See this speech in context