Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the condolence motion for Nancy Wake and to pass on my sympathy and support to her family and friends at this time. I, along with many others, was saddened to hear of her passing on 7 August 2011 at the age of 98. Nancy grew up in Sydney on a quarter-acre block during the Depression. She became a nurse and later a journalist. As a war correspondent she covered Hitler's rallies in Berlin and witnessed firsthand the Nazi violence. She joined the French Resistance and worked to help British airmen shot down over France to escape back to Britain. Her ability to evade capture lead to her being known as the 'white mouse' by the Gestapo.

By all accounts, Nancy Wake was a truly remarkable and courageous woman. She was clearly a woman with confidence in her own ability and who was prepared to fight for what she believed in. She was on record as saying:

I don't see why we women should just wave our men a proud goodbye and then knit them balaclavas.

Her story was told at the Currumbin RSL on Monday of this week by its President, Mr Ron Workman OAM, when a service was held to mark the 66th year since the end of World War II. Ron Workman and the Currumbin RSL are well known throughout Australia as it is this club, and Mr Workman in his capacity as president, which officiates at the very special Anzac Day dawn service that is held at Elephant Rock on Currumbin Beach and broadcast live across Australia. Approximately 10,000 people attended the service this year alone.

I consider it an honour to have been able to attend the service and luncheon on Monday to mark the end of World War II. It gave me the opportunity to meet many of our veterans who have served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. I had the privilege to speak with Warrant Officer Keith Payne VC, OAM, who is a most humble man who performed an incredible act of gallantry during the Vietnam War on the night of 24 May 1969 when he instigated a daring rescue of more than 40 men, many of them wounded, and led them back to the battalion base. In his own words, he got those soldiers out because:

It was my responsibility to get as many soldiers out of that battlefield area as possible, right? And that's what a commander's all about. I just did it because it was my responsibility. Somebody had to do something.

Looking around the room at the Currumbin RSL and seeing so many veterans gathered there I felt honoured to be with them. They have all done remarkable things for our country and I thank them all.

As the daughter, grand-daughter and great grand-daughter of World War I and World War II veterans I am tremendously proud of the legacy left by Nancy Wake and our veterans. Lest we forget.

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