Louise Markus (Greenway, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to pay tribute to one of our finest, Sergeant Brett Till. I honour him and acknowledge not only his sacrifice but the sacrifice of his mates and the men and women who serve our nation and the globe today. I particularly extend my thoughts and prayers to his family. I had the privilege of attending the ramp ceremony at Richmond. It was a very sad occasion. Today, as I hear my colleagues speak, I am reminded of what unites us as a nation.

He was a unique young man; there was no-one else like him on the planet. I did not know him personally, but having the opportunity to meet and talk to his mates and family gave me some insight into him as an individual. Soldiers from Brett’s unit at the Holsworthy based Incident Response Regiment formed an honour guard on 26 March this year, as the bearer party to receive and carry the casket from the C17 Globemaster aircraft to his family. It was a very solemn ceremony but it was also an opportunity for those close to Brett to pay their respects in private. I acknowledge that the Minister for Defence; the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston; the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie; and the Special Operations Commander Australia, Major General Tim McOwan, were also present on that day.

I would like to mention briefly some comments made by Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston as he expressed his condolences to Sergeant Till’s wife, family, friends and colleagues. He said:

Brett gave his life to protect others. We are humbled by his extraordinary courage and will be forever grateful for his selflessness …

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Gillespie asked Australians to remember the sacrifice of a young soldier who was serving his nation with distinction. He said:

Our thoughts are with Brett’s family and friends during this difficult period. As his tragic death is heavily felt throughout the Army, I want to ensure that Brett’s legacy and dedication is honoured and never forgotten …

Bree-Anna Barclay, Brett’s wife, an art teacher at a Sydney high school, is the primary carer of his two children, Jacob and Taleah. As has already been mentioned today, Bree-Anna is expecting Brett’s third child later this year. In a sense, their journey has really only just begun. While I cannot imagine what it would be like for a 10-year-old and a seven-year-old to lose their father, having lost a father as a teenager I can, I suppose, understand in part what they may be going to experience. I can only pray and hope that they will experience the comfort and the support that they deserve. As a grateful nation, we have heard today discussions about the support that Legacy and others provide.

Today we are indeed grateful for the life of Sergeant Brett Till, and I want to convey that to his family. Today is an opportunity for us to acknowledge not just his sacrifice but their sacrifice. Today around the globe, whether it be in Afghanistan or Iraq, whether it be in peacekeeping operations like in the Solomons Islands or Timor Leste, our men and women are putting their lives on the line to fulfil the call that they have but also what is asked of them by the nation today. It is important to acknowledge that their families today are making sacrifices for them to do that.

I pass on my deepest condolences. My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with Bree-Anna, Jacob and Taleah and the extended family. I know that at the ramp ceremony Brett’s mother, Susan, his father, Noel, his brothers, Glenn and Tracy, stepfather, Leigh, and stepmother, Cathy, and his half-sisters, Esther, Amelia and Sarah, were also present. I think it is important to mention them by name. They were part of Brett’s life. Whether it be his birthday, their birthdays, Christmases or important occasions, that is when they will be remembering Brett and his significance to them. Again, I express my deep regret for their loss, and I will continue to pray for them as they move into their future.

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