Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One of the greatest things about representing my community is their respect for our shared history. That respect is exemplified by a group of people in the Parramatta area who are working to develop a memorial in the Parramatta district that recognises the contribution of Indigenous service personnel. The committee is in experienced and capable hands, being led by former councillor Phil Russo and our former Lord Mayor, John Haines OAM. John and Phil are ably assisted by the Parramatta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee, which includes retired service personnel such as well-known local identity David William, a retired submariner; Air Force veterans Bryan West and Rick Anderson; Uncle Harry Ali, a respected elder in the community; and Lieutenant Colonel Scott Francis of the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers, who was second-in-command.

Together they are working towards their worthy goal of raising $200,000 dollars by mid-2017, with a view to dedicating the memorial by 11 November 2018. They have set their sights high and are working hard to reach their target. Since 2014, the committee has been determined to address community ignorance and at times antipathy towards the Indigenous people who have served our country with distinction since 1901. This recognition is long overdue. The memorial will be dedicated to proud first Australians, Australians who in 1903 were exempt from military service because they were not of European descent but who enlisted anyway in quite large numbers.

It was not until 1949 that these restrictions were lifted. These were Australians who, at the outbreak of the First World War, enlisted like thousands of others to do what they saw as their patriotic duty. The best guess estimate is that over 1,000 Indigenous men listed, although the figure is probably much higher as only their physical descriptions were noted. That was 1,000 people out of 93,000 Australians in 1901, according to the best available figures. They were at times rejected because their race and in 1915 it became harder to enlisted. People travelled hundreds of kilometres to enlist after being turned down in their own communities.

They were heroes like Private Richard Gunn, who listed his birthplace as Dunedin in New Zealand when he was in fact born on Stradbroke Island. Corporal Harry Thorpe, who won a military medal and was promoted to corporal for conspicuous courage during a battle in Belgium in 1917. He was fatally wounded in southern France and his body still rests there. According to Australian War Memorial, he rests with his friend William Rawlings, another military medal winner who was killed on the same day. These are but a few of the proud Australians who answered their nation's call.

The memorial will provide recognition and remembrance for Defence Force members who began as group of five in the Boer War. There were 700 at least in First World War, up to 6,000 in the Second World War, 30 to 35 in the Korean War, nine in the Malayan Emergency and at least 160 in Vietnam. Although these figures are sketchy, it is indicative of the commitment and loyalty of many Indigenous people. We know that Indigenous members continued to serve in later conflicts and operations in Somalia, East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. Figures from the Defence department show that in 2014 there were 1,054 Indigenous men and women serving in the Australian Defence Force.

The committee is currently negotiating with administrators in the City of Parramatta Council, who are keen supporters of the project. The council have engaged an arts consultant, who has identified six artists who will submit concept designs for the memorial. The winning artist will be selected by the committee with the assistance of a public art expert. The memorial will increase cultural awareness and understanding from casual observers, family members and serving and retired service personnel.

It will provide a site for up to 200 community members to participate in formal services, including Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and during NAIDOC Week. It will also offer a place for reflection and an opportunity to show respect for our fallen brothers and sisters. While the group is still identifying a site, it is envisaged that the memorial will be situated in a high-volume area that is close to the CBD. I wish the committee well in their endeavours with the knowledge that the overwhelming support of the community is with them. Their work is long overdue, and I thank them.