Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to rise to speak on the motion moved by the member for Higgins—a motion that acknowledges the spirit of Anzac and how Anzac has helped define us as a people and as a nation. The landing at Gallipoli—when Australia had barely been a nation for 14 years; a nation in its infancy; a nation which still saw itself as a British colony—by Australian soldiers on that rugged peninsula was really the birth of Australia as a nation. The Gallipoli campaign was a major campaign. Australian and New Zealand troops fought under their own flags for the first time and under their own commanders. They were fighting as Australians for Australia. It is because of that that Anzac Day and that landing at Gallipoli is so special. We can only imagine the despair and marvel at the determination of spirit of those brave men who refused to take a backward step against almost impossible odds.

This is a very appropriate motion that we have before us today. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Shortland electorate Anzac committee and acknowledge the people involved in the committee: Allan Bargwanna, the chair of this committee; the Mayor of Lake Macquarie, Jodie Harrison; Councillor Chad Griffith from Lake Macquarie Council; Councillor Doug Vincent from Wyong Shire Council; the principal of Belmont High School, Geoff Robinson; Peter Stephenson OAM, the RSL state councillor for the Newcastle and Northern Region; Warren Welham, the deputy principal of North Lakes High; Darren McManus-Smith, RSL state councillor for the Central Coast and metropolitan area; and my dear friend Colonel Jim Hodgson, retired, who is 90 years of age and who has made an enormous contribution to the considerations of the committee.

I was pleased when the government increased the Anzac commemorative local grants by $25,000 to $125,000 but I was extremely pleased when the Labor government put in place this program. It is a good initiative and one that will ensure that the memory of Anzac continues on in the history of our nation—although I think that that would happen regardless. In the Shortland electorate the committee has come up with a number of fantastic grants, and I would like to thank everybody who has submitted proposals. I would like to particular thank my staff member, Lisa McDermott, who has overseen this process.

The Redhead Sustainable Neighbourhood have put forward a proposal for three murals and plaques at Redhead Public School. Redhead is one of the communities within the Shortland electorate who has a very strong history relating to involvement in both the First World War and the Second World War. Kahibah Public School has a proposal for an Anzac garden at the school. The East Lake Macquarie Historical Society is putting together the publication of a local Anzac history book for Shortland. St Brendan's Catholic school, on the Central Coast, proposed a remembrance garden and student booklets. Swansea RSL put forward a fantastic proposal for a new rising sun memorial on the foreshore of Lake Macquarie, and that will connect with a similar memorial in Western Australia. The Pelican RSL subbranch put forward a proposal for commemorative medallions for all of Shortland electorate's students.

I would like to add that the Doyalson RSL did put in a proposal for a medallion, but they did it outside the guidelines. I really appreciate their contribution, but unfortunately the minister could not support the proposal. I thank them for going ahead and doing that, regardless of the fact that the proposal could not be supported.

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