Dr LIM - 1997-04-24
Tomorrow is Anzac Day. In the past, I have been involved in talking to school assemblies about Anzac Day and Armistice Day. Recently, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Australian Army put together an Anzac resource kit for schools. Does the minister support the use of the kit in schools and, if so, how will it benefit our children?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am most impressed with the kit that has been provided by the federal government and issued through the office of Hon Bruce Scott, Minister for Veterans' Affairs. It is a very comprehensive package, put together by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Australian Army. It consists of about half-a-dozen pamphlets and articles and it has a tape for use in Anzac Day services. There are some nice badges too. I might see if we can obtain some copies of this for use on Anzac Day. In short, it is an excellent resource. It has resulted from a demand from schools. Bodies such as Veterans' Affairs, the Australian Army, other defence establishments, RSL organisations and the Australian War Memorial etc all receive
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numerous requests for information. That list of requests has grown enormously, probably prompted considerably by the `Australia Remembers' programs that were very effectively put in place in 1995. In the Northern Territory, in 1992, we commemorated the bombing of Darwin through the `Battle of Australia' program, and our young students became far more aware of our military history and heritage.
I think this kit is most appropriate. Some 10 000 copies have been sent to schools. However, on 1 April - probably an appropriate date - the Australian Education Union castigated the production and distribution of this resource kit. I would like to know whether the members of the Labor Party stand by their union colleagues on this issue in complaining and whingeing that this resource kit, which was sought by schools ...
Mr Stirling: Who said that?
Mr FINCH: The member for Nhulunbuy wants to know who said it. If he wishes, I will give him a copy of the transcript of Mr Crossin who is, I believe, the secretary of the Australian Education Union, Northern Territory. His big complaint was that the union did not want all this extra material intruding on the school curriculum, which is too busy already. However, there is room already in the curriculum for such studies, and this is a marvellous resource. I would like members of the Labor Party to distance themselves from the comments of the union in that regard. I note the nodding of the head of the opposition spokesman on education. At least we have his support in that regard.
I am aware that, in many of our schools today, school assemblies will be having their Anzac Day services. Some of those school ceremonies are very impressive. Yesterday, I visited Batchelor Area School. The member for Victoria River and I were waiting for the college opening ceremony, and we went across to the local school. We visited one class - I think it was Year 3 - whose teacher, Mr Brown, is well known to some of my colleagues. He used to be at Wagaman School. He is a very colourful character who is very keen on getting kids singing. He gave us a preview of his class's item for today which is And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda. I thought it was a very impressive performance, and I know that Batchelor School will hold a great ceremony today.
In my own electorate, students of Leanyer School are off to Ambon where they will be participating in some ceremonies. Thus, right around the Territory, there are excellent acknowledgments of the sacrifices and commitment of our forebears. In that context, the kit is a most appropriate resource. In fact, the only complaints I have had from the schools themselves has been that some schools received their kit only in the last day or 2. Evidently, distribution needs to be organised a little better. However, it is an excellent program. I am a little disappointed in the Australian Education Union. I suppose, at the bottom end of the scale, its reaction could be described as negative at least and, at the upper end of the scale, I would go so far as to say it was unpatriotic. However, I am pleased that the members of the Labor Party opposite distance themselves from such a view.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am most impressed with the kit that has been provided by the federal government and issued through the office of Hon Bruce Scott, Minister for Veterans' Affairs. It is a very comprehensive package, put together by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Australian Army. It consists of about half-a-dozen pamphlets and articles and it has a tape for use in Anzac Day services. There are some nice badges too. I might see if we can obtain some copies of this for use on Anzac Day. In short, it is an excellent resource. It has resulted from a demand from schools. Bodies such as Veterans' Affairs, the Australian Army, other defence establishments, RSL organisations and the Australian War Memorial etc all receive
Page 2065
numerous requests for information. That list of requests has grown enormously, probably prompted considerably by the `Australia Remembers' programs that were very effectively put in place in 1995. In the Northern Territory, in 1992, we commemorated the bombing of Darwin through the `Battle of Australia' program, and our young students became far more aware of our military history and heritage.
I think this kit is most appropriate. Some 10 000 copies have been sent to schools. However, on 1 April - probably an appropriate date - the Australian Education Union castigated the production and distribution of this resource kit. I would like to know whether the members of the Labor Party stand by their union colleagues on this issue in complaining and whingeing that this resource kit, which was sought by schools ...
Mr Stirling: Who said that?
Mr FINCH: The member for Nhulunbuy wants to know who said it. If he wishes, I will give him a copy of the transcript of Mr Crossin who is, I believe, the secretary of the Australian Education Union, Northern Territory. His big complaint was that the union did not want all this extra material intruding on the school curriculum, which is too busy already. However, there is room already in the curriculum for such studies, and this is a marvellous resource. I would like members of the Labor Party to distance themselves from the comments of the union in that regard. I note the nodding of the head of the opposition spokesman on education. At least we have his support in that regard.
I am aware that, in many of our schools today, school assemblies will be having their Anzac Day services. Some of those school ceremonies are very impressive. Yesterday, I visited Batchelor Area School. The member for Victoria River and I were waiting for the college opening ceremony, and we went across to the local school. We visited one class - I think it was Year 3 - whose teacher, Mr Brown, is well known to some of my colleagues. He used to be at Wagaman School. He is a very colourful character who is very keen on getting kids singing. He gave us a preview of his class's item for today which is And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda. I thought it was a very impressive performance, and I know that Batchelor School will hold a great ceremony today.
In my own electorate, students of Leanyer School are off to Ambon where they will be participating in some ceremonies. Thus, right around the Territory, there are excellent acknowledgments of the sacrifices and commitment of our forebears. In that context, the kit is a most appropriate resource. In fact, the only complaints I have had from the schools themselves has been that some schools received their kit only in the last day or 2. Evidently, distribution needs to be organised a little better. However, it is an excellent program. I am a little disappointed in the Australian Education Union. I suppose, at the bottom end of the scale, its reaction could be described as negative at least and, at the upper end of the scale, I would go so far as to say it was unpatriotic. However, I am pleased that the members of the Labor Party opposite distance themselves from such a view.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016