Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak on this important motion on the Battle of Long Tan. I thank the member for Maranoa for bringing this motion to the House. It is important because this motion recognises the 10 soldiers from the Battle of Long Tan who recently received their gallantry awards. The motion speaks of the courage, bravery and commraderie of the men who fought in the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most significant engagements for Australian forces in the Vietnam War. This brutal battle saw Australians outnumbered roughly 20 to one and the highest number of Australian casualties in any single engagement during the Vietnam War.

On 8 November, I was fortunate enough to attend the investiture of the awards at Government House and meet the awardees, nominees and their families. This was an inspiring but also a very humble group, who really conveyed to me that they thought they were just doing their job. We thought they did much more than that. The ceremony acknowledged the 10 soldiers from the Battle of Long Tan, with three men being awarded the Medal for Gallantry and seven men being awarded the Commendation for Gallantry. Both of these awards recognise acts of gallantry in action, with the Medal for Gallantry specifically acknowledging gallantry in hazardous circumstances.

The ceremony was a moving and unique experience. We heard the stories of the men's bravery and compassion. We heard of the young men sacrificing their safety, overcoming their fear and racing into the unknown to help their mates. We heard of Private William Roche, who took up command of his section and displayed great bravery and resolution when the platoon was under pressure. We heard of Sergeant Alcorta and the late Private Brett, who disregarded their own safety to engage the enemy for a significant period of time, until they were joined by other members of 2 Platoon from the APC. Their actions surprised and destabilised the enemy and assisted in preventing potentially serious attacks on the relief force. We heard of Colonel Francis Roberts OAM, who displayed courage, sound judgement and decisive leadership in engaging his troops against the enemy. Each recipient had a story of bravery and resilience in the face of the unknown. It was truly a remarkable experience and one that I was honoured to be able to attend.

For the awardees and their nominees, this was the end of a long road seeking recognition for their courageous actions, and it was in no small part due to the efforts of one man that they received it. It was due to the determination and commitment of retired Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith that these men received the awards. Immediately following the battle, Colonel Smith recommended 20 of his men for gallantry awards. These recommendations were unsuccessful, with a number rejected, downgraded or refused, but he was determined that his men be recognised for their efforts and, as such, took the fight to the Defence Honours and Awards Appeal Tribunal. As he said to the ABC last year:

I didn't withdraw at Long Tan and I won't withdraw from the fight to have my men properly recognised.

In August this year, he was finally successful, with 10 soldiers being approved for these awards. I did ask Harry on the day at Government House what he was going to do now that his long battle had finally been won. He said that he was going to go out on his boat.

It was an immense honour to see these men recognised. At the ceremony, I was to be able speak to several of these men about what the awards meant to them and their families who nominated them. As I said, many of them were very humbled. They said that they were just doing their job. But, indeed, what we heard was that they were incredibly courageous and did our country very proud and, importantly, did not let their mates down. It was an honour to meet these men and witness this important ceremony. It was recognition that was absolutely overdue but finally recognition well deserved. I commend this motion to the House.

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