Russell Matheson (Macarthur, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

As the son of a Vietnam Veteran it is a great honour to rise in this House today to recognize the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and pay tribute to those who fought in the First World War and those who have served our great nation in subsequent wars and battles. May I take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the 2,000 Australian Defence Force personnel currently deployed overseas as well as the increasing number of recently returned veterans.

My father, Reg, was attached to 103 Field Battery during the Vietnam War, where he was involved in the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most significant and bloodiest battles Australia was involved in during the war, that saw 18 Australians lose their lives and 24 wounded. On that fateful night of 18 August 1966, the battery fired for more than five hours under extremely difficult climatic conditions, firing 1,078 rounds, the highest number of rounds fired by any battery during battle, in order to protect D Company, 6 Royal Australian Regiment, who were trapped in a rubber plantation near Long Tan in South Vietnam. My father has never really talked about the war, and he is by no means alone. Most of his mates refuse to talk about it as well, silently carrying the burden of their experiences without solace or support. And of course there are those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice: never returning home to their loved ones. The Centenary of Anzac is an opportunity for all Australians to show our deepest respect and gratitude for the sacrifices that have been made and are being made every day in various locations throughout the world by our service men and women and their families.

The Gallipoli landings and the establishment of the Australian Imperial Force represent the birth of the Australian military as it stands today—for instance, 103 Field Battery, my father's battery, first formed at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt on 6 March 1916 as part of the AIF's reorganisation following the Gallipoli campaign. Accordingly, the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli is perhaps the most significant commemorative occasion in our nation's history because of its vital role in establishing us as a nation and as a people. Thanks to the hard work of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Hon. Michael Ronaldson, the government has provided the perfect platform to help communities across Australia to reflect upon and venerate the lives and achievements of our Anzacs through the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program. I am proud to report that this program has played an integral role in Macarthur's Centenary of Anzac commemorations, providing more than $110,000 in funding to numerous schools and local organisations in my electorate. Rosemeadow Public School was able to build a memorial garden and learning centre thanks to this grant funding, providing the perfect environment for current and future generations of students to learn about the heroic deeds of our Anzacs. I was delighted to join Rod Armstrong, Secretary of the Campbelltown RSL Sub-Branch, at Rosemeadow's Anzac Day ceremony on 23 April to officially open the garden and learning centre. I would like to thank Principal Paul Hughes, Vice-Principal Michelle Lester, Karen Davies, Simon Greenshields and all the staff and students for what was a fantastic event.

Wollondilly Shire Council received Anzac Centenary grant funding to build a commemorative wall in Warragamba Civic Park, ensuring that residents in the Warragamba Silverdale area have a dedicated site to remember the fallen. The Warragamba and Silverdale region has a rich and proud Anzac history, with over 47 young men making the journey to Europe to fight in the First World War, including Patrick Sinclair Anderson, who was mortally wounded during the Gallipoli landings in 1915. I was delighted to join Jai Rowell, state member for Wollondilly, Councillor Hilton Gibbs and the Warragamba Anzac Committee in Warragamba Civic Park on 15 April for the official unveiling of this commemorative site. I would also like to give special thanks to Stonehill Stonemasons for their terrific work in creating this fitting tribute to the area's rich Anzac history.

The Veterans Recreation Centre in Campbelltown used funding to remove an existing Australian pine tree at Dredges Cottage and replace it with a certified lone pine that has been sourced by local horticulturalist and veteran John McDonald. The Veterans Recreation Centre is also preserving or replacing plaques on an existing memorial wall and restoring and reframing memorabilia photos and a painting dating back to World War I. I had the pleasure of visiting Dredges Cottage to have a look at these items on display and I am pleased to report that these historical artefacts make a significant contribution to Macarthur's historical record. The Veterans Recreation Centre has also assisted Lauren Hokin in receiving federal support to write a book detailing the sacrifices and experiences of locals who enlisted to fight in the Great War.

Camden Community Connections, a local not-for-profit organisation based in Narellan, hosted a picnic and poetry competition that involved schools across Macarthur. They also produced a DVD called Camden Anzacs: Our Stories that tells the stories of local Anzacs who served in World War I. The Anzac Centenary Community Picnic was a huge success, with hundreds of people flocking to Curry Reserve in Elderslie, where it was held on Sunday 26 April. I would like to congratulate the two poetry competition winners, Hermione Kiley, from Wollondilly Anglican College, and Taylor Skinner, from St Helen's Park School, for the moving recitals they made that day. I would also like to thank Sue Robinson and all her staff and volunteers for their hard work to make the picnic such an enjoyable and successful occasion.

Another benefactor of this fantastic program is the St Paul's Anglican Church at Cobbitty, which has received funding to restore a memorial plaque specific to World War I combat that was produced in memory of those who gave service and sacrificed their lives in the Great War between 1914 and 1919. This program also provided support for the Camden Show Society in conjunction with Camden RSL Sub-Branch to hold a military tattoo to commemorate the Centenary of Anzac. Each year over 40,000 people from across the region attend the Camden Show, and this year was made even more special because of the way Camden's war history was commemorated through the production of the military tattoo.

The people of Macarthur are incredibly proud of the men and women from the region who served this country during World War I. This was demonstrated by the enormous crowds at Anzac services right across Macarthur this year. The official estimate for the Camden RSL Sub-Branch dawn service was 12,000 people, an unprecedented crowd.

A special highlight at Camden's dawn service was Vicki Katon's idea to make a poppy quilt. Sub-branch President Iain Richard-Evan put an advertisement in the local paper asking for interest in helping to make a quilt. Many individuals and organisations in the community helped out, with the residents of Camden Downs Retirement Village making a significant contribution to the quilt. Over 6,000 poppies were knitted, and the poppy quilt was presented at the Camden dawn service. I would like to pay tribute to Susan Young, from Camden Country Quilters Guild, who took a wreath over to Gallipoli to honour the Anzac Centenary. I would also like to thank Camden RSL President Iain Richard-Evan, Senior Vice-President Con Diomis, Andy Wright, Stephen Hunt, Len Carter and Major David Brown, with special thanks to Vicki Katon and Diane Richard-Evan, for the Camden Poppy Project, Emma Robilliard and Mayor Lara Symkowiak from Camden Council.

At the Ingleburn RSL Sub-Branch dawn service more than 5,000 people packed into the sub-branch's Memorial Garden and Sister Helen Haultain Memorial Park. Thirty-one schools were represented, along with four preschools, various church organisations, the scouts, military cadets, members of the Defence Force and local politicians and dignitaries. A good friend of mine, Pat McGeown, a well-known and respected radio announcer who also happens to be a member for the Ingleburn RSL Sub-Branch and ex Defence Force member, emceed the event. I would like to pay tribute to President Ray James, Vice-Presidents Patrick O'Grady and John Bow, Secretary John Lees, Honorary Treasurer John Beer and everyone involved with the Ingleburn RSL Sub-Branch for making this year's Anzac celebrations so successful.

The Picton Thirlmere Bargo RSL Sub Branch Anzac service and march, which took place as part of Wollondilly Remembers, was attended by the Thirlmere Volunteer Rural Fire Brigade; 237 Cadet Unit; Ingleburn RSL Pipes and Drums; the Campbelltown-Camden District Band; students from Thirlmere Public School, Wollondilly Anglican School and Picton High School, who marched alongside sub-branch members, veterans and their families; members of the public; and Tharawal Land Council elders and members, who marched with their banner in recognition of the Indigenous Australian Defence Force Service. I would like to thank President Tim Bennett-Smith, Anthony Stringer, Ossie Biele, Kerry Chisolm, Philip Brockett and all the friends and volunteers who helped make this event such a success.

Campbelltown RSL's Anzac Day dawn service and later march and main service saw record crowds packed into Mawson Park. They enjoyed the blue skies and sunshine, which only added to the magic of the occasion. I would like to thank President Dutchy Holland, Senior Vice-President Warren Browning, Secretary Rod Armstrong, Treasurer W.R. Robinson OAM, Welfare Officer Elwyn Spencer, and Ernie New for their contribution as well.

In many ways this outpouring of support for the Centenary of Anzac commemorations should be no surprise, as Macarthur has a rich and proud Anzac history. We can only imagine what it was like for our beloved ANZACs 100 years ago on the battlefields. Their actions set a standard for future generations, and I am extremely proud of my father and all the Defence personnel who have served this country. We thank and remember those who have sacrificed their lives for this nation. May the Anzac spirit live on in all our hearts forever. Lest we forget.

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