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Remembrance Day

Published on: November 2023

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-137278

Remembrance Day

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (22:05:55):

At 11.00 a.m. on 11 November 1918 the guns on the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of brutal war. Each year we come together in our local communities to pay tribute to the men and women who have selflessly served and sacrificed for our freedom. As we stand in solemn reflection, we remember the countless individuals who throughout history have answered the call of duty, leaving behind the comforts of home to defend the values that we hold dear. Each poppy that adorns the chest of veterans, friends and family is a symbol of remembrance. It is a symbol that transcends borders and reminds us of the shared responsibility we have to uphold the legacies of those who came before us. The red petals are not just a symbol of bloodshed; they are a reminder of the resilience and determination that define the human spirit. The First World War was a time of hardship and devastation that ultimately ended with millions dead and millions more displaced. In the carnage and horror of war the Anzac spirit was forged—on the beaches of Gallipoli, the muddy hell of the Somme, and in the deserts of the Holy Land.

It is important that on Remembrance Day we pause to honour that Anzac spirit that endures to this day, the spirit of mateship, courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. This year I joined with my local community in Kirribilli to mark Remembrance Day. As always, it was a solemn occasion. I acknowledge the Kirribilli RSL Sub-Branch for all its efforts in organising this service, and for its continued support of our local veterans and their families. In particular, I thank Kirribilli RSL Sub-Branch president John Kirton, as well as the rest of the committee, including Tom Richardson, OAM, and Lisa Meehan. I also recognise the cadets from St Aloysius' College who attended and formed part of the honour guard and led the formal procession.

I thank Councillor Roy Bendall, who laid a tribute on my behalf at the Mosman RSL Sub-Branch service at the Mosman War Memorial. I also acknowledge the Mosman RSL Sub-Branch and particularly president Alan Toner for his work in pulling together the service again this year. At the North Sydney RSL Sub-Branch service, I acknowledge and thank Trent Zimmerman, who laid a tribute on my behalf. He and I are fellow patrons of the North Sydney RSL Sub‑Branch. I also acknowledge president Alex Wilson for all his continued efforts. I was honoured to be appointed as a patron of the North Sydney RSL Sub-Branch. It is a role that I gladly accepted, along with Commander Fiona Eggins of the Royal Australian Navy, who is the Commander of HMAS Waterhen, one of the two naval bases in my electorate of North Shore.

I also recently joined with all three of those RSL sub-branches for a family-friendly day of barefoot bowls at the Greens in North Sydney. While this was a much-anticipated showdown between North Sydney, Mosman, Kirribilli and some out-of-towners—our friends from Lane Cove—there was no clear winner except the bowls and camaraderie on the day. It was particularly lovely to see members bringing their families along to join in, from all ages young and old. It is these types of events that keep that mateship spirit and camaraderie alive and well. I recognise that RSL NSW is putting a lot of effort and energy into ensuring we have these types of events and sporting activities that will also encourage the participation of younger veterans. I note that Mosman RSL Sub-Branch now has a fishing day planned for our local RSL sub-branches. I am not much of a fisherman, but I may join them for the fellowship if not for the fish.

As we pay homage to those who served, it is crucial to cast our eyes upon the indomitable spirit of Australians who, despite the vast difference from the epicentre of conflict, played a pivotal role in the First World War. The struggles and horrors that they faced forged a resilience that belied our relatively small population at the time, and their bravery in the face of adversary became a defining characteristic of our Anzac spirit. In finishing, I will read a quote from former Prime Minister Billy Hughes, who said at the end of the First World War of the soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force:

Our heritage, our free institutions of government—all that we hold dear—are handed back into our keeping stained with the blood of sacrifice. Surely not only we, their fellow citizens, but Australians throughout the ages, will treasure for ever the memories of these glorious men to whom the Commonwealth owes so much, and will guard with resolute determination the privileges for which they fought and suffered.

Lest we forget.