❓ Mr. Krsticevic asks the Minister for Veterans to remind members of the importance of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. The Minister acknowledges the anniversary, the service, and the sacrifices of Australian and Western Australian veterans.
AnsweredQoN 525Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
VIETNAM VETERANS' DAY BATTLE OF LONG TAN —
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
525. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Minister
for Veterans:
The minister attended
a Vietnam War commemorative service this morning at Charles Riley Memorial
Reserve in North Beach. Can the minister please remind members of the
importance of today's anniversary?
FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
525. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Minister
for Veterans:
The minister attended
a Vietnam War commemorative service this morning at Charles Riley Memorial
Reserve in North Beach. Can the minister please remind members of the
importance of today's anniversary?
AnswerView source ↗
I start by
acknowledging the year 11 politics and law students from Peter Moyes Anglican
Community School in the member for Ocean Reef's electorate. Good
afternoon.
Mr Speaker, as you pointed out, today marks the fiftieth
anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. Earlier today, the North Beach RSL held
a very sombre memorial service. I acknowledge the attendance of the Leader of
the Opposition and the member for Albany at that service, and of the Premier at
another service on Sunday in Kings Park.
Since 1987, 18 August has also been designated as Vietnam Veterans Day, so we
can commemorate and remember all those Australians who served not just at Long
Tan but also during the entire conflict from 1962 to 1973 in all of the
services. More than 63 000 Australians fought in Vietnam, of whom 521 paid the
ultimate sacrifice; 61 Western Australians lost their lives during that
conflict. More than 3 000 were physically wounded, not to mention those who
came back with very deep emotional and mental scars that many still suffer from
today.
Of course, Long Tan Day and Vietnam Veterans Day are not just
about the Battle of Long Tan; it is about all those veterans. In particular, I acknowledge
the families of the 61 Western Australians who lost their lives during that
conflict. Up on the Vietnam Veterans memorial in Kings Park, permanently etched
on the black granite walls, are those 61 names. To honour them, my office this
afternoon is publishing on the veterans minister's webpage a short
biography of the 61 men who lost their lives during the Vietnam conflict. The
very first name in Kings Park by order of seniority of service and rank is
Chief Petty Officer Raymond Hunt. He was killed in 1968 on board HMAS Hobart . I am fairly familiar with his
story, because my father was there when he passed away. He was 27 years old and
from Geraldton. The first man to pass away during the Battle of Long Tan was
Private Richard Alfred Aldersea, about whom you spoke, Mr Speaker, upon
resumption of sitting at two o'clock. The stories of the suffering, the
tragedy and the way these 61 great Western Australians lost their lives is
worth remembering. I encourage all schoolkids to familiarise themselves with
the story and those 61 Western Australians on occasions such as today. As I said,
a short biography of the 61 men will be on the veterans minister's
website this afternoon.
acknowledging the year 11 politics and law students from Peter Moyes Anglican
Community School in the member for Ocean Reef's electorate. Good
afternoon.
Mr Speaker, as you pointed out, today marks the fiftieth
anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. Earlier today, the North Beach RSL held
a very sombre memorial service. I acknowledge the attendance of the Leader of
the Opposition and the member for Albany at that service, and of the Premier at
another service on Sunday in Kings Park.
Since 1987, 18 August has also been designated as Vietnam Veterans Day, so we
can commemorate and remember all those Australians who served not just at Long
Tan but also during the entire conflict from 1962 to 1973 in all of the
services. More than 63 000 Australians fought in Vietnam, of whom 521 paid the
ultimate sacrifice; 61 Western Australians lost their lives during that
conflict. More than 3 000 were physically wounded, not to mention those who
came back with very deep emotional and mental scars that many still suffer from
today.
Of course, Long Tan Day and Vietnam Veterans Day are not just
about the Battle of Long Tan; it is about all those veterans. In particular, I acknowledge
the families of the 61 Western Australians who lost their lives during that
conflict. Up on the Vietnam Veterans memorial in Kings Park, permanently etched
on the black granite walls, are those 61 names. To honour them, my office this
afternoon is publishing on the veterans minister's webpage a short
biography of the 61 men who lost their lives during the Vietnam conflict. The
very first name in Kings Park by order of seniority of service and rank is
Chief Petty Officer Raymond Hunt. He was killed in 1968 on board HMAS Hobart . I am fairly familiar with his
story, because my father was there when he passed away. He was 27 years old and
from Geraldton. The first man to pass away during the Battle of Long Tan was
Private Richard Alfred Aldersea, about whom you spoke, Mr Speaker, upon
resumption of sitting at two o'clock. The stories of the suffering, the
tragedy and the way these 61 great Western Australians lost their lives is
worth remembering. I encourage all schoolkids to familiarise themselves with
the story and those 61 Western Australians on occasions such as today. As I said,
a short biography of the 61 men will be on the veterans minister's
website this afternoon.
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