Kelly O'Dwyer (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House::

(1) that the spirit of ANZAC is one of special significance to all Australians as it showcases the attributes of courage, mateship and sacrifice which were demonstrated at the Gallipoli landing;

(2) that the ANZACs helped define us as a people and as a nation, they were ordinary Australians who performed extraordinary deeds and were drawn from the smallest towns and biggest cities;

(3) that the Government is enabling Australians to honour the service and sacrifice that epitomises the ANZAC spirit by increasing the funding allocated to each federal electorate across Australia to $125,000 via the ANZAC Centenary Local Grants Program; and

(4) the Government's commitment to community-based commemoration, as promised at the last election.

I rise today to move this motion of national significance. The spirit of Anzac is one that defines our nation. It exemplifies all that is great about Australia: courage, bravery, mateship, determination and sacrifice. This year is especially significant, as it represents the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli.

Gallipoli is a moment in our history that we memorialise and commemorate for its magnitude and the impact it has had on our nation. The Australian troops at that time showed their heroism when they stormed the beaches, against all odds. Tragically, our nation lost 8,709 young men on the beaches of Gallipoli between the first landing on 25 April 1915 until the battle's end on 8 January 2016. We must also pay tribute to the 2,701 New Zealanders who also perished. It is moments like this that have brought our nations together.

Having only recently taken part in the Anzac Day ceremonies, it is clear the importance that this historic moment plays in the Australian psyche. Anzac Day is a day on which every Australian reflects on the First World War and its impact, both on the lives of so many Australians and their families and on our nation's identity. To mark the occasion of the 100th anniversary, the government is implementing the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program.

The grants will go towards the holding of commemorative ceremonies and the preservation of the historic and socially valuable monuments and artefacts that relate to this period. The government supports the Centenary of Anzac commemorations and gives this grants program due recognition of the extraordinary world events, where so many lives were lost and destinies irrevocably altered in the defence of freedom. The grants program will also facilitate a reflection by this generation and ensure that the magnitude of that sacrifice will continue to be acknowledged by future generations.

Under the program each electorate receives up to $125,000 as part of the grants process, and applications have come from local RSLs, schools, nursing homes, community organisations and individuals, to name just a few. In my electorate of Higgins, a Centenary of Anzac grants committee was established to review and recommend the applications. I would like to show my gratitude and appreciation to those on the committee who worked so incredibly hard: Chairman Lt Col. (Retd.) David Blackwell, Rev. Bradly Billings, Adrianne Fleming, Garry Thompson, Sharon Werka and Robert Millis. Each of them brought their expertise and each of them gave generously of their time to this most worthy cause.

The committee's work has been vital in seeking the community views on how best to commemorate the centenary and assist me in reviewing all applications for funding prior to their submission to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. To date, there have been 33 applications for grants in Higgins. They range from memorial stones, plaque restoration, commemorative services and digital archiving.

I am pleased to announced that submissions from Villa Maria, St John's Anglican Church, Toorak RSL have all been approved by the department, with submissions from Armadale Primary School Melbourne High School, South Yarra Primary, St George's Anglican Church, St Kevins Boys School, Ashburton Primary School, De La Salle College, Glen Huntly Primary School, Malvern Valley Primary School, Murrumbeena Primary School, Oakley Grammar, St Michael's School, King David School, Solway Primary School, St Cecilia's Primary School, East Malvern RSL, Prahran RSL, Stonnington City Council and Yarra Trams still pending approval.

There is no doubt that the centenary of Anzac 2014 to 2018 will be one of the most significant national periods of commemoration in Australia's history. It is therefore vital that we work together as a community to ensure we pay appropriate tribute to the thousands who answered the call to serve Australia during the First World War and the many who gave their lives in defence of our liberty.

In Higgins we will be taking part in a very special commemoration ceremony. My committee has organised a special commemoration march, a special map has been drawn up of all of the sites of significance in my electorate, and there will also be a service held by all of the churches and the synagogues in my electorate to commemorate this occasion. I would like to thank the minister and the government for their foresight in putting together this special program. It is something that all Australians will be able to recognise together.

See this speech in context