Wear poppies to remember sacrifice

ONE hundred years ago, on November 11, 1918, the Armistice that ended the fighting during the First World War was signed with Germany.

After more than four years of brutal fighting in the most destructive war the modern world had seen, the guns fell silent, and people around the world rejoiced.

But it came at a great cost, and for Australia, of the some 416,000 who enlisted for service more than 60,000 died—the effects of which were felt in every community, large and small, around the country.

In the years that followed the war, November 11 was known as Armistice Day and two minutes of solemn silence was observed at 11am.

Today, November 11 is known as Remembrance Day, and it stands as the day we remember the men and women who have suffered and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations over a century of service.

This Remembrance Day, I urge all Australians in communities across the nation to wear a red Flanders Poppy and to stop for a minute’s silence to remember these brave men and women.

We should also remember those who returned home carrying with them the scars of their service, and the family members who cared for them. And we thank those currently serving in the Australian Defence Force and on peacekeeping operations.

As a nation we should all show our gratitude for the sacrifice of those who have bravely served and died. For a century we have remembered them and we will ensure they are remembered still.

Lest we forget.

DARREN CHESTER, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

FRIEND TO AUSTRALIA

THE death of Dato Tan Chin Nam, a proud Malaysian of Chinese descent, sees the closing of a strong bond with Australia.

In Sydney his friendship with Australia remains on show with the Queen Victoria Building and the Capitol Theatre which he owned and redeveloped.

His long-standing relationship with Bart Cummings saw him win four Melbourne Cups. When Bart Cummings fell on troubled times only Dato Tan Chin Nam stepped forward to buy Bart’s property holding it until Bart could purchase it back from him.

Sadly, in this day and age of Palmer, Hanson, Katter, and other foreign ownership alarmists such a friendship between a foreigner and an Australian would matter for nought. The FIRB would be forced to deny the purchase of buildings like the Queen Victoria Building or the Capitol Theatre.

In due course if the anti-Asian course continues we will see many business relationships based on friendship and understanding torpedoed by the likes of Palmer, Hanson, Katter and Anning.

Dato Tan Chin Nam was just one of the good news stories of how foreign ownership is good for Australia and its history. Sadly the foreign ownership alarmists won’t see it that way. JOHN FRIEND, Toowoomba

‘‘ FOR A CENTURY WE HAVE REMEMBERED THEM AND WE WILL ENSURE THEY ARE REMEMBERED STILL.