It’s our turn to support our brave veterans
NEXT Saturday, February 19, marks 80 years since the air raid sirens sounded.
Eighty years since the bombs first fell on Darwin city and the harbour.
Eighty years since Australian blood was first spilt on our soil during World War II.
There were so many heroes who defended our northern city.
Take the “naked gunner” Wilbert “Darkie” Hudson, who was in the shower when the alarm sounded.
He grabbed his tin hat, boots, and a towel, and ran for his machinegun – but he lost his towel while shooting at Japanese dive bombers.
Not even that could stop him putting up a mighty fight.
There was also nurse Margaret de Mestre, who was on the hospital ship Manunda when the bombs started to fall.
The ship was hit, and Sister de Mestre kept helping to save the lives of the injured before dying of shrapnel wounds.
They were two of many heroes. When the sirens start to wail next Saturday morning at the Darwin Cenotaph for the reenactment, we will remember all those who defended Darwin.
Many will also gather at the Stokes Hill Wharf memorial to remember the waterside workers, seafarers and others who were killed when the wharf and ships were hit.
When the memorial wall for World War II civilians on the Esplanade was removed to make room for the eternal flame, it was important to the local families – and to me – that it was rebuilt adjacent to the flame.
I’m thrilled that the City of Darwin has been able to do so in time for this significant anniversary, and I encourage everyone to have a look at the Esplanade.
The Vietnam veterans have a saying: honour the dead and fight like hell for the living.
Our veterans were willing to lay down their lives to protect us, and the least we can offer them is support with our arms held wide open.
That sentiment has been the main driver behind pushing for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which is under way and holding hearings around the country.
It’s incredibly important work, long overdue and much needed, and we all hope it will result in clear-eyed recommendations to help drive systemic change.
For years, our veteran community has waited for the promised Veterans’ Wellbeing Centre, which was a bipartisan commitment made at the last federal election.
The contract was given to Queensland-based ex-service organisation Mates4Mates, who have been operating an interim centre in Palmerston.
They are looking for a larger premises for the Palmerston Veteran and Family Wellbeing Centre, but as a result of strong advocacy have doubled their commitment with a Darwin Veteran and Family Wellbeing Centre to be operated from 39 Stuart Highway in the second half of this year.
This is a great outcome and will mean we can provide more localised support for our veterans and their families.
Our other ex-service organisations, such as the RSLs, Legacy, Soldier On, Council of Australian Veterans, Veterans Australia NT, Reeling Veterans and others including assistance animal groups, continue to do outstanding work. A new ex-service organisation in the NT is Disaster Relief Australia (DRA), which is operating out of Reg Hillier House on Bees Creek Rd, the home of Veterans Australia NT.
Together our veterans use their skills, positive attitude and knowledge to support veterans, their families and the community.
It bears remembering that back in 1942, the year of Darwin’s bombing, then Labor Prime Minister John Curtin defied British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and brought our troops back from the Middle East to defend Australia.
The day following the Japanese attack, Curtin said, “Darwin has been bombed but not conquered”. Truer words were never spoken. And in the eight decades since, generations of Darwinites have kept building this amazing place that we call home.
It’s a wonderful home, kept free by those that we remember.
Lest we forget.
LUKE GOSLING OAM MP IS THE FEDERAL MEMBER FOR SOLOMON, REPRESENTING DARWIN AND PALMERSTON IN CANBERRA. HE SERVED IN THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE FOR 13 YEARS.