Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was an honour to attend the unveiling of a new World War I plaque on the Montrose War Memorial on Sunday. I want to say thank you to Montrose veteran Doug Hill for unveiling the plaques and all of those who put on such a moving service in honour of our local veterans. Thank you to Montrose Men's Shed life member and inspiration behind the project, Max Lamb. I also thank poet Jim Brown; piper Ian Townsley; bugler Tom Steele; Montrose Fire Brigade and Montrose township group member and a legend in Montrose, Eddie Tischler; Yarra Glen RSL and Outer Eastern Melbourne Vietnam Veterans Treasurer, Stephen Shortis; the Mount Evelyn RSL President, Matt Crymble; and local historian and Secretary of the Mount Evelyn RSL, Anthony McAleer.

This was a moving service to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in World War I. When you hear about the ages of those young men—19, 20, 24—I pay tribute to those veterans of World War I, remembering that there are many veterans in this House and also serving today and their families who have sacrificed so much. It is important we continue to pay tribute to those who have served and kept our country free for so many years. We must never forget it isn't just the veterans but their families and their communities that are impacted by the devastation of war.

Sitting suspended from 13:49 to 14:00