Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Anzac Day is an important date each year when the country stops to honour and reflect on the sacrifices and bravery of those who fought for our freedoms. We thank those who continue to serve to protect the Australian way of life, our democracy and our freedoms today.

It was heartwarming to see commemorative services held on Anzac Day in each and every corner of my community, with thousands of local residents attending to pay their respects. I was honoured to attend and commemorate with our local Anzacs at the Lilydale dawn service, the Mt Evelyn Gunfire Breakfast and the Wandin, Montrose and Mooroolbark services before heading to the local football at Mooroolbark and then finishing the day at Seville.

Thank you to the Dandenong Ranges, Healesville, Lilydale, Monbulk, Mount Evelyn, Upper Yarra, Upwey Belgrave, Warburton and Yarra Glen RSLs for their services. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Wandin, the Seville War Memorial Committee, the Millgrove Residents Action Group, the Mooroolbark Umbrella Group, Peter Adams and the Kalorama committee, Max Lamb, Mooroolbark Football Club, the Seville Football Netball Club, the Upwey-Tecoma Football Netball Club, the Olinda Ferny Creek Football Netball Club and the Yarra Junction Football Club for their continued dedication to remembering those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

It was also a privilege to attend many Anzac commemorative services held by local schools, community organisations and football clubs in the lead-up to and after Anzac Day. Thank you to Lilydale Memorial Park and our local schools—Belgrave South Primary School, Lilydale Primary School, Bimbadeen Heights Primary School, Yering Primary School and the Upper Yarra schools service, which includes Wesburn Primary School, Millwarra Primary School, Woori Yallock Primary School, Warburton Primary School, Upper Yarra Secondary College, Seville Primary School, Don Valley Primary School, Yarra Junction Primary School, St Joseph's Primary School and Launching Place Primary School. Thank you for the invitation to join you and pay our respects.

Each year, in the lead-up to Anzac Day, it is an honour to hold the Don Parsons Memorial Anzac Creative Writing Prize for all grade 5 and 6 students across the Casey electorate. This competition pays tribute to the late Don Parsons, the late president of the Lilydale RSL, who made a significant contribution to our community. The hundreds of entries were so well received, and it was heartening to see so many local school students pay tribute to our Anzacs through their writing. It was wonderful to visit these schools to meet the winners and the finalists of the competition, who were selected by the local RSL presidents. Congratulations again to the winner, Matilda, and finalist Jonathan, both from Rolling Hills Primary School; finalist Tahlee, from Wandin North Primary School; and finalists Lara and Kyla, from Montrose Primary School. Thank you to all the students who participated in the competition.