Chris Crewther (Dunkley, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 2 July, I was honoured to attend and represent the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Prime Minister at the Reserve Forces Day parade and commemorative service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. I was joined by the Victorian shadow minister for veterans' affairs; the RSL Victorian Branch State President, Dr Robert Webster; the parade host, Brigadier Neale Bavington; Reviewing Officer Major General Jim Barry; and many others. The Reserve Forces Day Council is made up of, primarily, former members of the Navy, the Army and the Air Force, who voluntarily run Reserve Forces Day activities, giving up their own time and energy to acknowledge the invaluable work and raise the profile of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Reserves and to thank partners and employers for their support.

Reserve Forces Day parades have been held since 1988, which marked 50 years since the reformation of the Citizen Military Forces after the Second World War on 1 July 1948. The Reserves are, as the Prime Minister said in his message, 'an integral part of our military, ready to step up in response to any challenge and in defence of our national interests,' so I was immensely proud to be able to recognise their work on behalf of the government and the people of Australia not only for those Reserves in Dunkley but also all across Australia.