Mr BONSON - 2007-02-15
As all members would know, Monday, 19 February marks the 65th aanniversary of the first bbombing of Darwin. What is the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory doing to commemorate this event?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. As we all know, 65 years ago comen Monday, 188 Japanese planes flew over my home islands, the Tiwis, to attack Australia and to destroy Darwin. This was the first of 64 raids over 18 months, and hundreds of people, and we should take that time to remember that, both military and civilian, died and many more were wounded. One-quarter of Darwin’s buildings were destroyed, including its major facilities: the wharves, air depots, air fields, Post Office and hospitals, and great damage was done to shipping in the harbour.
Sixty-five years later, some of the signs of attack on Darwin remain, including the Post Office wall preserved within this building. The memories also remain, and it is important that they do. We should never forget this time, nor should we ever forget other wars and other lives lost.
This evening, I will have the honour of opening and exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory commemorating some of the memories ofrom the time that Darwin was at the frontline against enemy forces.
Australia Under Attack 1942-43 is an Australian War Museum travelling exhibition funded through the federal government’s cCommemoration pProgram, sSaluting tTheir Service, which honours the contribution to their country of Australia’s servicemen and women.
I commend MAGNT, and all the staff involved at the museum, and the persistence of one young gentleman in Darwin, about whom we have all and all here has heard him, and that is young Zac Menzies. The exhibition includes that flag. , and Zac has been persistent in lobbying a many people. This is the flag which flew over the Administrator’s Rresidence at the time of the first bombing of Darwin, and it ,bears the marks of those attacks. I am sure all members of this Assembly will welcome it back to the Territory. I urge you to take the time to visit the exhibition during the next five months and view not only the flag, but many of the other memories that are there of the time Australia was under attack.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Millner for his question. As we all know, 65 years ago comen Monday, 188 Japanese planes flew over my home islands, the Tiwis, to attack Australia and to destroy Darwin. This was the first of 64 raids over 18 months, and hundreds of people, and we should take that time to remember that, both military and civilian, died and many more were wounded. One-quarter of Darwin’s buildings were destroyed, including its major facilities: the wharves, air depots, air fields, Post Office and hospitals, and great damage was done to shipping in the harbour.
Sixty-five years later, some of the signs of attack on Darwin remain, including the Post Office wall preserved within this building. The memories also remain, and it is important that they do. We should never forget this time, nor should we ever forget other wars and other lives lost.
This evening, I will have the honour of opening and exhibition at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory commemorating some of the memories ofrom the time that Darwin was at the frontline against enemy forces.
Australia Under Attack 1942-43 is an Australian War Museum travelling exhibition funded through the federal government’s cCommemoration pProgram, sSaluting tTheir Service, which honours the contribution to their country of Australia’s servicemen and women.
I commend MAGNT, and all the staff involved at the museum, and the persistence of one young gentleman in Darwin, about whom we have all and all here has heard him, and that is young Zac Menzies. The exhibition includes that flag. , and Zac has been persistent in lobbying a many people. This is the flag which flew over the Administrator’s Rresidence at the time of the first bombing of Darwin, and it ,bears the marks of those attacks. I am sure all members of this Assembly will welcome it back to the Territory. I urge you to take the time to visit the exhibition during the next five months and view not only the flag, but many of the other memories that are there of the time Australia was under attack.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016