E&OE.
It’s a great honour to be here today.
I’d like to begin by paying tribute to the RSL Sub-Branch here in Ipswich and say, Paul, to you, thank you very much for the initiative in today’s ceremony.
We don’t do enough in our country to honour and recognise those veterans who have served us and protected us.
During the course of this service today, I hope that we can pay some tribute to the sacrifice that you have made, that your family and community have made, those loved ones around you have paid a price for – and we recognise all of you today.
It’s a great honour to be here also in the presence of somebody who has provided great leadership to his nation, but now, as the RSL President here in Queensland, to Major General Stephen Day, it’s an honour to be here with you today, sir. Thank you very much.
Can I also acknowledge the Honourable Shayne Neumann as the local Member; to my very good friend, the local Mayor, Teresa Harding; to Senator Paul Scarr; to all of our state colleagues who are here today; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.
We gather here today to commemorate and to thank.
To honour all Australians who have served, suffered and sacrificed in conflicts and peacekeeping operations since the Vietnam War.
To express our gratitude to all Australians wearing our uniform today – especially to those on deployment thrust into danger.
Half-a-century has ticked over since the Governor-General’s proclamation which ended Australia’s participation in the Vietnam War.
So much has transpired in the last 51 years.
The Cold War ended. The War on terror commenced. The thirst for sovereignty sparked new conflicts in certain places. The rise of ethnic tensions ignited new conflicts in others.
Today’s commemorative service covers so many years, spans so many deployments to regions around the globe, and encompasses so many deeds on the frontlines of fighting and in the pursuit of peacekeeping.
It’s impossible, in only a few words, to do justice to the service, suffering, and sacrifice of so many Australians.
It is impossible, in only a few words, to detail what they did.
In Cambodia and Bougainville. In East Timor and the Solomon Islands. In Afghanistan and in Iraq – to name but a few places.
But if there’s a connective thread that runs through the last five decades, it’s this:
Australia didn’t sit on the sidelines.
Where there was evil, we sought to bring justice.
Where there was conflict, we sought to restore peace.
Where there was wrong, we sought to do right.
And where our allies and partners sought our assistance, we gave it.
In heart, in mind, and in deed, our men and women in uniform served not only their nation, but the great cause of civilisation.
And that is the story – one of steadfast service to the greater good, as a force for good – which we salute today.
Long may we commemorate this selfless spirit to service.
It’s not only the highest quality of the Australian character.
It’s a quality which holds our nation to the mark.
Lest we forget.
[ends]