Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak of the great contribution of Alfred Leslie Mervyn to Australia's war efforts in World War II. I am so honoured that Alfred has been a lifelong constituent of Barton and a lifelong resident of Arncliffe. Last month I awarded him the certificate of recognition of service to Australia during the Second World War. He came with his family and we had a lovely morning tea. He signed up at the age of 21 in January 1942. This was a very fearful and uncertain time for Australia, and we must not understate the importance of our home front. Just the previous month Pearl Harbor had been attacked and the Imperial Japanese Army had begun its drive down through the Malaysian peninsula. The following month, Singapore would fall and the bombing of Darwin would commence.

At this point, our policymakers were preparing for an invasion of Australia. Without hesitation, thousands of brave young men such as Alfred Leslie answered the call. He served in the 132nd Australian General Transport Company. He was based in the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland as an electrical fitter and driver, delivering supplies to personnel based up and down North Queensland. He was stationed not far from the Japanese air raids on North Queensland, which also targeted Townsville and Mossman. I pay tribute not just to Alfred Leslie Mervyn but to all the service men and women who served on the home front.