Gavin Pearce (Braddon, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Aged Care and Indigenous Health Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is good news from me today. Yesterday I had the privilege and honour of attending the Royal Military College, Duntroon for their graduation ceremony for 212 young Australians who have chosen the profession of arms, and the profession of leadership within that, and have become officers in the Australian Army. It was an emotional day for me as I looked at the faces of those young Australians and saw the pride in their eyes. As we listen to the media, we hear all sorts of rubbish, but yesterday I learnt of words like 'courage', 'initiative', 'teamwork', 'respect', 'honour' and 'excellence', and I saw those things in the eyes of those young folk who were graduating. I saw them in every step.

I sat next to the Chief of Army, and, when he asked me what was important to me as a parliamentarian, I looked at him and said, 'Chief, those 212 young Australians, those young leaders out there, are what's important to me, to my colleagues and to those parents who are so proud of their young ones, and that is what is so meaningful for the rest of the nation.' The nation is extremely proud of each and every one of them. I wish each and every one of those 212 graduates at the Royal Military College godspeed. Bravo Zulu, out.