Sharman Stone (Murray, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I too commend the member for Parkes for this very important motion. Indigenous Australians have served in virtually every conflict and peacekeeping mission in which Australia has participated since the start of the last century—from the Boer War through to East Timor—but it is difficult to give an exact number for those who served because we have been quite inconsistent in Australia in recognising the Indigenous status of those who volunteered to serve. Section 61H of the Defence Act 1910 exempted from service in time of war persons who are 'not substantially of European origin or descent'. Although the Defence Act initially frustrated Aboriginal attempts to enlist, recruitment policies were relaxed after the heavy losses in 1916 and 1917. Men who claimed one European parent were sometimes accepted for overseas service. However, Commonwealth and state governments still consistently underestimated Aboriginal contributions because of these definition issues.

At the start of World War II, the Defence Act barred the conscription of full-blooded Indigenous people because it was held that since they were not enfranchised citizens, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders should not be compelled to defend Australia. The Indigenous status of service personnel was not recorded on ADF enlistment forms because, quite simply, those forms did not allow it, and so Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders were not able to state their heritage until well after 1980.

There are currently about 820 people in the permanent ADF who identify as being of Indigenous origin. We know however that the families of all of those who have served are well aware of their contributions and we need to share their pride. I am particularly proud of the Aboriginal servicemen from the electorate of Murray who served whenever their country called, including the first and second world wars, despite the fact that when they came back it was without being recognised as full Australian citizens. Certainly they were not allowed to put their hands up for solider settlement support.

Private Daniel Cooper was born in Barmah, which is right next door to Cummeragunja, the mission on the Murray River. He was born in 1895. He enlisted in the AIF at Broadmeadows on 23 July 1915 and trained in Egypt. He joined the 24th Battalion on the Western Front in June 1916. This was just before the 24th Battalion fought in its first major battles in France—Pozieres in July and Mouquet Farm in August. Daniel went to England briefly with health problems. He returned and rejoined the 24th Battalion. We believe he was with this unit when he was killed in action on 20 September 1917.

We think it was 20 September, because there is also an entry that he was killed on 29 September 1917. However, the official record of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission states Daniel's death was on 20 September. At the time, the 2nd Australian Division was fighting in the Battle of Menin Road. It could be assumed that Private Cooper died on the first day of the battle. He is buried at the Perth Cemetery, China Wall, in Belgium, along with 2,007 of his fellow Commonwealth servicemen.

Private Arthur Charles Nelson was born at Cummeragunja mission in April 1894. He enlisted in the AIF at Echuca in June 1918, giving his address as Barmah. Because he enlisted so late, however, he was recalled to Australia before reaching Europe.

Andrew Cooper was born in Echuca in 1896. He enlisted in the AIF in June 1917. He was discharged as medically unfit before he was sent overseas, but he was there to serve, and he would have done so with great distinction, I know, on behalf of his family, because he felt he was an Australian and he needed to defend his nation. On his enlistment form it states that he was a 'half-caste'.

I want to particularly acknowledge other Victorian Aboriginal soldiers of World War I who were killed in action: Laurence Henry Booth from Orbost; Daniel Cooper, son of the legendary William Cooper; William Alexander Egan from Warrnambool; James Gordon Harris from Healesville; William Fredrick Murray from Orbost; William Reginald Rawlings, also a military medal winner, from Warrnambool; Gilbert Theo Stephen; and Harry Thorpe from Lakes Entrance, who was also a military medal winner.

I want to also mention the Cummeragunja Government Mission women, who did a fantastic job knitting socks, jumpers and balaclavas for the World War II effort. There are some wonderful photos of them, sitting out in the open, all with their knitting—socks and scarves—draped over their knees, and of course the family names of these women are the same as those of the men who put up their hands to serve. Lest we ever forget.

See this speech in context