Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today we remember the contribution of all those who served Australia in war and conflicts, in particular we will remember today the contribution of Indigenous Australians who have taken up arms to defend this country. Later this afternoon, the Australian War Memorial will rename a gallery after Australia's first Indigenous commissioned officer, Capt. Reg Saunders.

Born in my electorate of Wannon, at Purnim, he was from a military family whose members served in both the Boer War and the First World War. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Reg Saunders enlisted on 24 April 1940 and was sent to the Middle East where he saw action in North Africa. After this, he was part of the failed Greek campaign. On the island of Crete, Saunders saw the allies defeated and was forced to hide from the German forces for 12 months. After his escape in 1942, he rejoined the Australian force in New Guinea where his actions and bravery were noticed, and his commanding officer nominated him for officer training.

A great soldier and leader, Reg would see further action after World War II in Korea before coming back to Australia to finish his career as a liaison officer with the Office of Aboriginal Affairs. He was appropriately awarded an MBE in 1971 for his service. It is fitting that he and his story are remembered and commemorated permanently in our War Memorial today.