Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of this motion, and thank the member for Ryan for bringing it to us. With only a few days now until we pause to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Great War, it is only appropriate that we take time in this place to remember those who went and participated in this conflict. World War I remains the most costly conflict in Australian history, with over 60,000 of our men and women killed and 156,000 wounded or taken prisoner.

I want to acknowledge today the many of those who were injured, or who made the supreme sacrifice, who either came from or had a close association with our electorate of McEwen. Our community has a long and rich military history; a history of victories and of pain, and a history of which we are proud—particularly in the Seymour area, home to Puckapunyal Army base, which is still being used as a mobilisation and training area, as it has done since before World War I. Seymour is the home of the famous Light Horse Park, the Seymour Military Heritage Weekend and, of course, the nationally renowned and iconic Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk.

Indeed, only this year, as we commemorated the Centenary of Anzac, we launched a book from our community called There Was a Soldier Who Wandered Far Away. This book was written by respected local author Karen Christensen and it documents the story of Lieutenant Leslie Cecil Maygar, the very first Australian to win the Victoria Cross. He was born in Wandong in my electorate of McEwen.

My hometown of Whittlesea's honour roll lists the names of my ancestors who served in both the first and second world wars: Frank Kummer, killed on 25 October 1917 of wounds in France; Kenneth MacNee, the brother of Harold MacNee, DCM and Military Cross; and Keith Mitchell, who died on 25 April 1915 on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. It is said that Keith was shot through the neck on the first ridge around 300 yards inland. He was digging trenches for the stretcher bearers leading onto Anzac Beach. Right across the electorate on honour rolls in Kilmore and Lancefield are the names of family members who answered our country's call. On 30 October I had the honour of attending the official unveiling of the Whittlesea township avenue of honour plaque upgrade, rightfully ensuring that these men's and other local diggers' names will never be forgotten.

This history is not just a distant memory to us—words on a page or names on a dusty honour roll. This is real and living history that forms part of the spirit of our families and our community. The First World War shaped our identity as a people and a nation. The Gallipoli campaign in particular has come to exemplify powerful Australian values of mateship, sacrifice, loyalty and pride. As we undertake our commemorations over the next week, I encourage everyone to honour the memory of those who served by looking up into the branches of their family trees and at the stories behind the names on our local honour rolls. Try to find out, if you can, the history of your family's service. Together let us learn the story of the people who fought and who found the courage to do the truly extraordinary.

Sadly, our Indigenous brothers who fought for Australia found on their return to Australia that, instead of recognition and grace, Aboriginal diggers received ignorance and racism. They were not eligible for returned servicemen's land grants or even membership of the RSL. Grace Smallwood wrote:

I know of at least one Aboriginal veteran of World War I who was not only denied his pay packet and his pension but, on his return, was given the very same rags he had been wearing the day he volunteered, and sent back to work on the station as if the trenches, the mud and the fighting had never existed.

These diggers were ineligible to vote but they were eligible to die for this country. Cecil Fisher wrote:

They have forgotten him, need him no more

He who fought for his land in nearly every war

Tribal fights before his country was taken by Captain Cook

Then went overseas to fight at Gallipoli and Tobruk

…   …   …

This black soldier who never marches on ANZAC Day

Living in his Gunya doesn't have much to say

Thinks of his friends who fought some returned some died

If only one day they could march together side by side

His medals he keeps hidden away from prying eyes

No one knows, no one sees the tears in his old black eyes

He's been outcast just left by himself to die

Recognition at last black ANZAC hold your head high.

Let us as a new generation give meaning to the solemn national promise that we repeat. On the 11th hour of the 11th day we should remember them, lest we forget.

Debate adjourned.

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