Lest we forget

IT is 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Our last veterans have passed away.

Indeed, our surviving Second World War veterans are in their 90s, or have already reached their centuries. Some of these legends are still among us here in Darwin.

Many of our servicemen and women were (and still are) first-generation Australians, having emigrated from the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Americas.

Others, like myself, have fathers and grandfathers who served with Australia’s armed forces. My great-grandfather — Thomas Wood — served with the British Army in the First World War before emigrating to Australia.

He survived the Battle of the Somme, but was gassed … an injury that probably saved his life, but ruined his health.

Like most veterans of his generation, he suffered in silence. Remembrance Day has special significance this year as it is 100 years since the guns of the Western Front fell silent after over four years of continuous, grinding, devastation.

The end of the war left Australia with an issue as difficult as the conflict itself: taking care of the survivors, the war widows and their children.

On this day we especially remember this generation that was devastated by the Great War but then had to endure the Great Depression. They persevered through those difficult years to continue to build our great country.

Through the Federal Government’s Armistice grants, several marvellous projects were funded to commemorate this very significant centenary. The Darwin Chorale put on a brilliant show last weekend at the Darwin Entertainment Centre that had the audience in tears of laughter and tears of sadness recalling the stories of young Territorians that went off to fight.

Last night at the Christchurch Cathedral the Darwin City Brass Band performed In

Their Honour and Darwin High School also continued their tradition of Remembrance. The Darwin Military Museum is using its grant to establish a Centenary of Armistice monument at East Point. One hundred years after the First World War, we pause this morning to remember those who sacrificed so much in that war but also those who have been lost or damaged serving in conflicts since.

We have not always done the right thing by them and it is simply unacceptable for our veterans to be neglected by the country they served.

Here in the Northern Territory we lack a dedicated service centre to support current and former Defence personnel.

At present they and their families have to deal with complex issues and a range of services, often at a stressful time, without support.

I have been advocating for a services support centre, as seen in other capital cities, to ensure that ADF personnel, veterans and their families are supported both during and after their service.

I recently conducted a survey about the proposed centre, (which would also be open to other frontline service people) and the approximate 300 responses demonstrated strong support for such a facility.

Ex-service personnel transitioning to civilian life expressed a wish for services and support in health and wellbeing, including access to counsellors, assistance communicating with the Department of Veterans Affairs, social support and mentors, and assistance with job seeking.

The responses strongly favoured access to health services, basic gym and exercise facilities, professional workshops, a recreation space and community activities, (including for families) and men’s shed type facilities. I am committed to making such a centre a reality.

In Adelaide, the services support centre is named after Sapper Jamie Larcombe who was killed in Afghanistan while serving with the Darwin-based 1st Combat Engineer Regiment. It would be appropriate to name a Northern Territory facility after Territorian Scott Palmer who was killed in Afghanistan while serving with the 2nd Commando Regiment.

Scott was from Katherine, and his parents Ray and Pam continue to lead the campaign in the Territory to support veterans and their families.

As we stop today to remember the centenary of Armistice, let us renew that most solemn promise that ‘We Will Remember Them — Lest We Forget’. This morning services at Darwin, North Darwin, Palmerston and Adelaide River start at 10.30am and commemorations continue this afternoon with the NT Pipe Band who are simultaneously playing with other bands around Australia at 3.30pm at the Palmerston memorial. Thank you to everyone who pauses today to acknowledge those who have gone before us and who sacrificed so much for our great nation.

Luke Gosling OAM MP is the Labor Federal Member for Solomon

“As we stop today to remember the centenary of Armistice, let us renew that most solemn promise that ‘We Will Remember Them “