Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Mason. In April this year, the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffrey, and Mrs Jeffrey will travel to Israel at the invitation of the President of the State of Israel, His Excellency Mr Shimon Peres, to represent the government and people of Australia at the 60th anniversary of the state. What an honour. I am proud to be an Australian whose Governor-General is heading to Israel for this very important occasion. The Governor-General and Mrs Jeffrey will also participate in a range of World War I commemorative events, including the official opening by the Governor-General and Mr Peres of the Park of the Australian Soldier in Be’er-Sheva on 28 April. The park features a landscaped recreational area and innovative playground catering for children with disabilities. The central feature is a sculpture by renowned Australian sculptor Peter Corlett, who also undertook the sculpting work of Harry Murray VC, Australia’s most highly decorated soldier, which is stationed and positioned in the town of Evandale, just south of Launceston in Tasmania. This particular sculpture will commemorate the charge of the Australian Light Horse Division’s 4th Brigade against the Turkish positions at Beersheba, which is now called Be’er-Sheva, on 31 October 1917. The park and sculpture project are an initiative of the Pratt Foundation in partnership with the Beersheba Foundation, in recognition of those dramatic events that took place just over 90 years ago. The project received strong support from the previous Australian government. In particular, I want to acknowledge the efforts of the former Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon. Bruce Billson, and his department.