Warren Snowdon (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for External Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I thank the Deputy Speaker, the member for Maranoa—he is a good bloke. I want to concur with his comments and observations about the workings of this place, and how we should respect one another. I thank you very much and wish everyone in this place, and your families, a Merry Christmas.

I want to briefly talk about the commemorative events held on the Cocos Islands to commemorate the mighty battle between HMAS Sydney and SMS Emden. The commemorative events were held on the 8 and 9 November 2014, 100 years to the day since that battle where 134 German lives were lost and four Australian lives. The official events were held over four days and featured the presence of the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, and Lady Cosgrove; His Excellency Dr Christoph Muller, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany; and Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, Chief of Navy. I want to thank him and all of those involved from the Navy for their engagement with this celebration and commemoration. I particularly thank Lieutenant Commander Desmond Woods from the Royal Australian Navy for his organisational work.

I will not have time to describe all of the events that happened, but I do want to thank a number of people for their engagement. As the federal member representing the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, I would like to acknowledge the many Cocos Islanders and those from other places, past and present, who contributed to making the event such a success.

I would like to acknowledge Lionel Allen, an historian who started planning for the event on the 90th anniversary; Brian Lacy, a former administrator and chair of the reference group; Jon Stanhope, a former administrator; Shire President Aindil Minkom; Peter Clarke, a former shire CEO; Aaron Bowman, the current shire CEO; Nek Neng, a reference group member; Shane Charleston, from CKI Ports; Trish Flores, from the national parks; Ron Grant, from the Cocos Co Op; Lisa Smith; Peter Griggs; Jules Bush; the Cocos Keeling Islands Tourism Association; the Cocos Islands Community Resource Centre; the Cocos Island District High School and, particularly, principal Ray Denholm; AFP's Ben Owens, Zac, Lakina and Kenneth Zakaria; Sally Harrison, from the Cocos Historical Society; Toll Airport Management Cocos; the Cocos Club; Big Barge and Peter Wicks; Digger at Cocos Autos; Haji Adam Bin Anthony Rabuhu; Bin Haig Cree; Bin Pazan, Manija; and, most particularly, Amber Watters, who was the project coordinator. They did a wonderful amount of work.

The events that I was able to participate in were very memorable and are a tribute to their desire to make sure that this event is remembered, because it was the most important naval battle of the First World War for Australia. As our troops were embarking off to the Middle East, the Sydney went to intercept the Emden and a battle ensued and, ultimately, the Emden was beached off north Cocos Island. I commend all of those people and wish everyone in this place a happy, merry Christmas and a safe, pleasant and, depending on who you are, a prosperous New Year.