Ms LEE - 2014-02-19
On this special day, we remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the Bombing of Darwin. Can the minister update the House on the involvement of the Filipino community on that fateful day and how those brave people are being remembered?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, thank you to the member for Arnhem for her question. She is well aware of many local people who died on this fateful day 72 years ago.
It is a great honour to update the House on what has occurred today and yesterday. Briefly on today’s Bombing of Darwin ceremony, I pay my respects to all those people, both military and civilians, who paid the ultimate price in the defence of Darwin, and those who were here, sadly, during the bombing. Yesterday there was a ceremony held at the Defence of Darwin Museum, attended by Her Excellency Belen F Anota, who is the Philippine Ambassador to Australia; Mr John Rivas, Honorary Consul; Mr Oscar Parian, the President of the Filipino Association of Australia NT; Dr Tom Lewis; and many others, to acknowledge the contribution of a number of Filipino merchant sailors who, sadly, died on 19 February, 72 years ago.
These sailors were on two ships, the Florence D and the Don Isidro, and were killed during the Japanese air raids while outside Bathurst Island. They were part of a secret flotilla which had come to Darwin and was going to resupply allied and Philippine troops who were on islands just off Manila Bay during the Japanese invasion.
They were the first victims of the air raid on the day of the incoming Japanese attack; they were strafed and bombed and were finished off on the way out. They copped a double dose.
The Filipino community had about 100 members present yesterday, along with approximately 50 or 60 other local representatives, for the unveiling of a plaque which will be placed on a memorial wall at the Darwin Military Museum at East Point. This wall commemorates all those from many countries who died here. If you ever get an opportunity, I encourage everyone in this House to go for a walk past that wall. It is a very moving experience.
We all know there are many descendants from Filipino sailors who came here in the early 1800s, those who came here during the war and stayed, and there are many local families who have intermarried with European and Aboriginal families here. The first name which comes to mind is the Cubillo family who are of Philippine and Aboriginal descent. Many people, like all of us here, will acknowledge these people have now been recognised for the ultimate sacrifice they made in the war effort in not only defending Australia, but defending the free world.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, thank you to the member for Arnhem for her question. She is well aware of many local people who died on this fateful day 72 years ago.
It is a great honour to update the House on what has occurred today and yesterday. Briefly on today’s Bombing of Darwin ceremony, I pay my respects to all those people, both military and civilians, who paid the ultimate price in the defence of Darwin, and those who were here, sadly, during the bombing. Yesterday there was a ceremony held at the Defence of Darwin Museum, attended by Her Excellency Belen F Anota, who is the Philippine Ambassador to Australia; Mr John Rivas, Honorary Consul; Mr Oscar Parian, the President of the Filipino Association of Australia NT; Dr Tom Lewis; and many others, to acknowledge the contribution of a number of Filipino merchant sailors who, sadly, died on 19 February, 72 years ago.
These sailors were on two ships, the Florence D and the Don Isidro, and were killed during the Japanese air raids while outside Bathurst Island. They were part of a secret flotilla which had come to Darwin and was going to resupply allied and Philippine troops who were on islands just off Manila Bay during the Japanese invasion.
They were the first victims of the air raid on the day of the incoming Japanese attack; they were strafed and bombed and were finished off on the way out. They copped a double dose.
The Filipino community had about 100 members present yesterday, along with approximately 50 or 60 other local representatives, for the unveiling of a plaque which will be placed on a memorial wall at the Darwin Military Museum at East Point. This wall commemorates all those from many countries who died here. If you ever get an opportunity, I encourage everyone in this House to go for a walk past that wall. It is a very moving experience.
We all know there are many descendants from Filipino sailors who came here in the early 1800s, those who came here during the war and stayed, and there are many local families who have intermarried with European and Aboriginal families here. The first name which comes to mind is the Cubillo family who are of Philippine and Aboriginal descent. Many people, like all of us here, will acknowledge these people have now been recognised for the ultimate sacrifice they made in the war effort in not only defending Australia, but defending the free world.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016