Steve Irons (Swan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Tomorrow at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month we will come together as a nation to mark Remembrance Day. This year will have special significance as the 90th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the First World War. When we stand together in silence tomorrow we shall remember the nearly 7.5 million people from all nations who lost their lives during the conflict. In particular, we shall remember the servicemen who fought for Australia. In 1914 Australia’s population was just under five million. Of that number, 416,809 men enlisted for service overseas, 330,000 saw active service, 60,000 were killed, 82,000 were wounded in battle and a further 88,000 returned ill or injured. We owe these people a lasting debt of gratitude for their defence of freedom.

Tomorrow, we will not just remember those who were prepared to lay their lives on the line in World War I; we will also think of our service men and women currently risking their lives for the cause of freedom in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere in the world. I recently had the pleasure of awarding Australian Defence Force Medals to six members of my electorate in Swan: Tracy Brandis, Richard Evans, Robert Jones, Julie-Anne Monaghan, Roger Reynolds and Anthony Schofield. It was wonderful to witness the service men and women receive their awards in front of their proud family members at the Belmont RSL. Like all those who have defended our nation, they are to be commended for their selfless commitment to Australia and should be remembered tomorrow. Lest we forget.