Ms LAWRIE - 2004-02-19
Could you please detail the effort you are making to ensure that Australians achieve a greater recognition of the event that took place in Darwin on 19 February 1942?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, you could have no more important question for us as Territorians today than the 62nd commemoration of the Bombing of Darwin that we have all been part of this morning.
As we have seen over the years, Territorians increasingly recognise the importance of this commemoration. It is heartening each year that we go to those commemorations - very well organised by the Darwin City Council, may I say, working in conjunction with government, they really do a terrific job - that more and more Territorians are coming to the commemoration and understanding what it is about. It is particularly heartening to see both primary and secondary students there, both primary and secondary, from all over the Darwin region.
We know the facts,. wWe know that at 9.58 am on 19 February 1942, 188 Japanese aircraft attacked Darwin without warning. The planes were from the Japanese first attack fleet,; some of the same planes that had previously attacked Pearl Harbour. So tThere was that first raid at 9.58 am, there was a second raid at noon and, on that day in 1942, 243 people were killed in Darwin. Eight ships were sank in the harbour, and 50% of shipping was damaged. Overall, during that World War II period, there were 64 raids on the Top End from the period of 19 February 1942, February 19th, through to November the next year, and 46 of those attacks were on Darwin.
As I said, we TTerritorians are recognising more and more the significance of 19 February. It is great to have people here from around the country, and to meet these people. - I met one fellow who caome from Dungog. He was in the Post Office when Darwin was bombed, and he was back to be part of the commemoration. People who had families here come back for this day, and it is terrific to talk to them.
While we have individuals from parts of Australia, wWhilest Australians generally know that Darwin was part of the World War II effort and part of the bombing, they really do not know what happened on 19 February. It is time we actually we did some more about this. , sSo, today, I have written to the Chair of the ABC, Donald McDonald, asking the ABC to give annual national coverage of the commemoration ceremony in any way he chooses – television or radio would be wonderful. I have also talked to the local ABC. This is a starting point for getting Australians to recognise the significance of this day in 1942,. that we Territorians are growing to understand its importance, but the rest of Australia also needs to be aware of the day in which Australia was bombed for the first time and the impact it had in Darwin.
Madam SPEAKER: I also have to say, Chief Minister, the two young students from Parap were tremendous.
Ms Martin: Weren’t they terrific.?
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, they were great.
Leader of the Opposition, I need you to seek leave to table those documents from the previous question.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table those documents.
Leave granted.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, you could have no more important question for us as Territorians today than the 62nd commemoration of the Bombing of Darwin that we have all been part of this morning.
As we have seen over the years, Territorians increasingly recognise the importance of this commemoration. It is heartening each year that we go to those commemorations - very well organised by the Darwin City Council, may I say, working in conjunction with government, they really do a terrific job - that more and more Territorians are coming to the commemoration and understanding what it is about. It is particularly heartening to see both primary and secondary students there, both primary and secondary, from all over the Darwin region.
We know the facts,. wWe know that at 9.58 am on 19 February 1942, 188 Japanese aircraft attacked Darwin without warning. The planes were from the Japanese first attack fleet,; some of the same planes that had previously attacked Pearl Harbour. So tThere was that first raid at 9.58 am, there was a second raid at noon and, on that day in 1942, 243 people were killed in Darwin. Eight ships were sank in the harbour, and 50% of shipping was damaged. Overall, during that World War II period, there were 64 raids on the Top End from the period of 19 February 1942, February 19th, through to November the next year, and 46 of those attacks were on Darwin.
As I said, we TTerritorians are recognising more and more the significance of 19 February. It is great to have people here from around the country, and to meet these people. - I met one fellow who caome from Dungog. He was in the Post Office when Darwin was bombed, and he was back to be part of the commemoration. People who had families here come back for this day, and it is terrific to talk to them.
While we have individuals from parts of Australia, wWhilest Australians generally know that Darwin was part of the World War II effort and part of the bombing, they really do not know what happened on 19 February. It is time we actually we did some more about this. , sSo, today, I have written to the Chair of the ABC, Donald McDonald, asking the ABC to give annual national coverage of the commemoration ceremony in any way he chooses – television or radio would be wonderful. I have also talked to the local ABC. This is a starting point for getting Australians to recognise the significance of this day in 1942,. that we Territorians are growing to understand its importance, but the rest of Australia also needs to be aware of the day in which Australia was bombed for the first time and the impact it had in Darwin.
Madam SPEAKER: I also have to say, Chief Minister, the two young students from Parap were tremendous.
Ms Martin: Weren’t they terrific.?
Madam SPEAKER: Yes, they were great.
Leader of the Opposition, I need you to seek leave to table those documents from the previous question.
Mr MILLS (Opposition Leader): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to table those documents.
Leave granted.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016