Ken O'Dowd (Flynn, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

August has seen two great remembrance days for our defence forces. On 15 August, the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, we acknowledge the services and sacrifice of over one million Australians who fought in that war. Remarkably, there are 12,000 ex-servicemen still alive today.

On Vietnam day or Long Tan Day, on the 18th of the eighth, we celebrated at Mount Larcom with Jeff and Lindy Feros—Jeff Feros served with the United Nations in Western Sahara in 1992 and 1993—and Brian Kessner, the Mount Larcom RSL president. I salute all those people who've come back and, of course, recognise the fact that 520 Australian soldiers were killed in Vietnam and there were over 3,000 casualties. The Vietnam families, along with members of the community, gathered to pay their respects. It is important for us all to remember that these events shaped our nation. I hope that our future generations will always remember. Lest we forget.

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