Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Anzac Centenary is a milestone of very special significance to all Australians and one that been rightly recognised and commemorated around the nation and around the world. It is important that we as communities remember the centenary of Australia's involvement in the First World War. The First World War and the devastating loss at Gallipoli forged our Anzac legend, shaped our national identity and helped define our national character. Indeed, on Anzac Day this year throughout the nation hundreds of thousands of Australians turned out to pay their respects.

In my electorate of Richmond, like elsewhere, the response was overwhelming. Today I would like to speak about the local projects from the Anzac Centenary grants and how our community commemorated the Anzac Centenary. I recognise the great work of many individuals, RSLs and community groups who contributed to this. The main aim of the Anzac Centenary grants was to encourage all Australians to reflect upon and learn more about Australia's military history and its impacts upon our nation, our communities and our families.

During the Anzac Centenary we remember not only the original Anzacs of World War I; we also commemorate more than a century of service by Australian service men and women. The Anzac Centenary program encompasses all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations in which Australians have been involved. Due to the significance of the Anzac Centenary, the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program was developed. It was designed to assist community groups to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australian service men and women, and it gives all Australians the opportunity to honour the service of those who have served our country.

The grants program provided $125,000 for each federal electorate around the country to mark the centenary of the First World War. That funding meant that local communities could decide for themselves the best way for them to commemorate the Anzac Centenary. In my electorate of Richmond, I invited the local RSLs to play a central role on the committee to determine the appropriate allocation of the funding. It was wonderful to see the response from the RSLs; it was very enthusiastic and immediate. The committee was convened and chaired by Dr John Griffin of the Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL Sub Branch. The committee members were: Kevin Sharpley from Far North Coast Legacy, Violet Hill from the Byron Bay RSL Sub Branch, Kevin Cheetham from Murwillumbah RSL Sub Branch, Paul Smith from Mullumbimby RSL Sub Branch, Hugh Aitken from Kingscliff RSL Sub Branch, and Col Draper from Bangalow RSL Sub Branch. I would especially like to acknowledge the great guidance and work of the chair, John Griffin, who did an outstanding job.

There was such great diversity of projects right across the community and I would like to highlight the successful applications and projects, starting with the largest project. The Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL Sub Branch received $53,000 to host a re-enactment of the Gallipoli landing on Anzac Day this year. This indeed was a worthy project of quite grand proportions and it gained a huge amount of local attention and enthusiasm. It was an enormous undertaking. When we were first talking about this project, word spread and we thought that maybe 10,000 people would attend. On the day, in fact, in excess of 15,000 attended. Prior to the traditional dawn service, with the backdrop of the Jack Evans Boat Harbour at Tweed Heads, the re-enactment of the landing at Gallipoli occurred, involving the local surf lifesavers acting in the role of the soldiers arriving on the shores of Anzac Cove. There was a spectacular and very moving light and sound show occurring whilst the soldiers were landing. The project also had live video feeds of the event strategically placed around the park so that all of the thousands in attendance were able to properly view the occasion. I commend everyone involved. It was an enormous undertaking and it was a very important event for the area.

The Cudgen Public School received over $21,000 to upgrade the war memorial at the front of their school. Cudgen School has a long and proud association with the Anzac Day ceremonies and the local community. They have worked closely with the Kingscliff RSL over the years with respect to this particular project.

The Byron Bay RSL Sub Branch received $39,400, and their project was to refurbish the existing First World War memorial gates and build a sheltered cenotaph as well. There were also very generous offers of in-kind support and donations from the community. One of the many contributions came from students at Byron Bay High School, Byron Bay Public School and St Finbar's Primary School, who researched the soldiers whose names are on the memorial gates.

The Mullumbimby RSL Sub Branch received over $2,000 and they put together a proposal for a wonderful art exhibition which engaged World War I descendants and local schoolchildren. A local ceramics artist, Deborah Gower, conducted workshops, and the artwork was inspired by memorabilia sourced from the relatives and descendants of Mullumbimby soldiers. One of the major artworks was made from wooden crosses donated by the Australian War Memorial. These contained messages written by World War I descendants and also children from Year 6 at St John's Catholic School and Mullumbimby Public School. It was a great hands-on project that involved a lot of locals.

Another wonderful initiative of the Mullumbimby community was the application made by the Drill Hall Theatre Company, who received $3,705. The drill hall itself, it is interesting to note, may possibly be one of the only remaining buildings in the Richmond electorate to have been built specifically for the training of soldiers for World War I. The Drill Hall Theatre Company is commissioning a play called The Signaller, which is about a young soldier who enlists in the Australian Light Horse just before meeting and falling in love with his young wife.

The Murwillumbah RSL Sub Branch received over $2,000 to compile a roll of honour for those who served in World War I. The roll consists of those who originated from the local area and served with the AIF during World War I. That project will be displayed at various locations throughout the community.

The diversity of projects really reflects the diversity and interests of the communities, and it was truly inspirational to see the way in which the RSL clubs worked so well with the wider community, community organisations and the schools. Everyone really embraced this great opportunity to commemorate the Anzac Centenary

That is reflected in the very diverse and poignant events that were held. Many people have reflected upon what a success it is, has been and will continue to be, as we commemorate the Anzac Centenary. The array of projects really demonstrates the uniqueness and vibrancy of our region but it also demonstrates the very strong collective will to remember and reflect upon those lives lost during war, during World War I and indeed through all wars. It was an opportunity to reflect upon all those servicemen and women who have served our nation in many conflicts and many events.

I think it was most important, in terms of the Anzac Centenary grants in my electorate, that everyone worked so closely and so well together to ensure that the respect, particularly for our Anzac legends and our Anzac legacy, continues to be handed down to younger generations. Many of these projects really did involve those younger generations, and I commend them and the schoolchildren who were involved.

Throughout all of these events, as we remembered and reflected upon the Anzac Centenary, the Anzac legend and all those servicemen and women who served our country, our thoughts are always today with those Australians who are serving our nation. We acknowledge and thank them for their service.

In conclusion, it was an absolute privilege to be involved with the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program and to remember and reflect upon those who served and sacrificed so much.

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