Ms FINOCCHIARO - 2013-02-19
Can you tell the House of the events you have attended that appropriately marked today’s 71st anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. I acknowledge her involvement in and support of community events in and around the commemoration of the time when hostilities commenced in the Top End, which occurred across the north of Australia and involved so many.
I also acknowledge there are those who fought a battle, and those who comment on how battles are fought. However, the point here is battles need to be fought. Those veterans who were here fought a mighty battle and have given us what we have today. It is fitting that these veterans be acknowledged.
There has been a series of events that underline the importance of commemorating the anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin, not only to Territorians, but to the many visitors who take the opportunity to be in Darwin on 19 February.
Yesterday I jointly officially opened the World War II Allied Memorial Wall located at the Darwin Military Museum with World War II veteran Brian Winspear. It was important to honour the 1672 names of the fallen and to acknowledge the historians and personnel involved in making this exceptional tribute possible. I am proud of what they have done, and what we have been given today as a result of their sacrifice in the past, particularly those names and what they represent.
This is the first time all the names of all those who died as a result of enemy attacks in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory have been listed together. There are foreign nationals such as Dutch and Indonesians, whose lives and sacrifices will not be forgotten. They inspire and strengthen us today to face the challenges that lie ahead.
This morning I contributed to the commemorative service and shared stories from the fateful day at the wharf, the RAAF Base and the USS Peary.
One story I should recount is of Peter Bald. Peter approached me and said, ‘My name is Peter Bald. My mum, dad and my sister lost their lives on the first day of the bombings’. He told me he was 16 and was ready to come back to the Northern Territory at that time to be with his family who were at the Post Office. He said, ‘I was meant to get on the plane but I could not’. I could see a man who was then 17 and crying for the loss of his parents. He came here today. I was so proud to see young kids from our local schools spend time with Peter and hear his story and make that magical connection. That is why this needs to be continued and why it is so good to see so many families come here with their loved ones and share this very important story.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for her question. I acknowledge her involvement in and support of community events in and around the commemoration of the time when hostilities commenced in the Top End, which occurred across the north of Australia and involved so many.
I also acknowledge there are those who fought a battle, and those who comment on how battles are fought. However, the point here is battles need to be fought. Those veterans who were here fought a mighty battle and have given us what we have today. It is fitting that these veterans be acknowledged.
There has been a series of events that underline the importance of commemorating the anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin, not only to Territorians, but to the many visitors who take the opportunity to be in Darwin on 19 February.
Yesterday I jointly officially opened the World War II Allied Memorial Wall located at the Darwin Military Museum with World War II veteran Brian Winspear. It was important to honour the 1672 names of the fallen and to acknowledge the historians and personnel involved in making this exceptional tribute possible. I am proud of what they have done, and what we have been given today as a result of their sacrifice in the past, particularly those names and what they represent.
This is the first time all the names of all those who died as a result of enemy attacks in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory have been listed together. There are foreign nationals such as Dutch and Indonesians, whose lives and sacrifices will not be forgotten. They inspire and strengthen us today to face the challenges that lie ahead.
This morning I contributed to the commemorative service and shared stories from the fateful day at the wharf, the RAAF Base and the USS Peary.
One story I should recount is of Peter Bald. Peter approached me and said, ‘My name is Peter Bald. My mum, dad and my sister lost their lives on the first day of the bombings’. He told me he was 16 and was ready to come back to the Northern Territory at that time to be with his family who were at the Post Office. He said, ‘I was meant to get on the plane but I could not’. I could see a man who was then 17 and crying for the loss of his parents. He came here today. I was so proud to see young kids from our local schools spend time with Peter and hear his story and make that magical connection. That is why this needs to be continued and why it is so good to see so many families come here with their loved ones and share this very important story.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016