Dana Wortley (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The incorporated speech read as follows—

I rise today to express my deep sadness on the passing of a young South Australian man, a Kangaroo Islander—Jamie Larcombe. Sapper Larcombe, a member of the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, lost his life when his patrol was attacked by insurgents in the Mirabad Valley in Afghanistan. That weekend I was on Kangaroo Island among a large gathering of islanders at a community event, when the news came through. The effect on the island’s closely-knit community was immediate—a great sadness descended. One of the island’s own was lost, and in a place far away. Sapper Larcombe was just 21 years old.

Born at Kingscote on Kangaroo Island, Jamie Larcombe attended Parndana Area School where his youngest sister April still attends. He was noted for his involvement in community activities. He had been active in the CFS since his early teenage years and in 2007 helped fight the bushfires that swept across sections of Kangaroo Island. He loved motorbikes and footy. He still played for Western Districts when the opportunity arose, and he was a great Adelaide Crows fan. He won an Australian Defence Force scholarship in year 12.

Despite his youth, Sapper Larcombe had just marked his third anniversary in the Australian Army. He had already been deployed in Indonesia, helping with the recovery following the Padang earthquake in 2009. He was an impressive young man with a great deal to contribute, and a great future ahead. Clearly, he was much loved and cherished by his family, his girlfriend, his friends and his regimental mates.

Sapper Jamie Larcombe was farewelled at a memorial service at Tarin Kowt. When it was over, more than 2,000 soldiers from six nations stood to honour him as his coffin was lifted into an RAAF Hercules. I offer my sincere condolences to Jamie’s parents Tricia and Steven, partner Rhiannon, sisters Anne-Marie, Emily and April, and his Kangaroo Island and Army friends and communities. Vale, Jamie Larcombe.