E&OE..................
Well thank you very much Rear Admiral Griffiths, to Bruce Scott, the Minister
for Veterans' Affairs, to Senator Schacht, the Shadow Minister for Veterans'
Affairs, my other Parliamentary colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. This is
another event which commemorates the long and rich military tradition and
history of our country. It was in fact in the Boer War of 1899 to 1902 that
for the first time Australians fought in the uniform of the forces of the
Commonwealth of Australia. Because as you know they went, the first contingent
as the contingent of the colonies as they then were, and returned in 1902
to the federated Commonwealth of Australia. So today is a very special commemoration
in that context.
The Boer war was also the first military operation in which the nurses,
the service nurses of Australia to whom an impressive memorial was dedicated
here in Canberra only a week ago, were to serve with such distinction. And
the nurses of Australia in the subsequent conflicts in which Australian
forces were involved, played a magnificent part in helping and caring for,
and nurturing, and sharing the risks of danger and death of our forces.
16,000 young Australians served in the Boer War. It was a war that was to
cost the lives of 600 of our countrymen, and remains on my understanding
the third most costly military involvement in terms of loss of life of any
operation in which Australian forces have been involved.
This special commemoration, this colourful commemoration brings together
the largest assembly of light horsemen in Australia since the 1940s. Certainly
the largest gathering ever seen in Canberra. And I am, I know every Australian
here is greatly indebted to those people who have come from the United Kingdom,
from South Africa, from Canada, and from New Zealand to share this very
special celebration. May I say to you Bruce that your Cabinet colleagues
are very impressed at your own contribution. As of course fits the Federal
Member for a great rural area such as Maranoa where a capacity to do what
you have done is an absolute necessity, but I congratulate you nonetheless
for it.
But most importantly today we are here to commemorate an early sacrifice
in the early days and early months of the Australian nation. A sacrifice
of men and women who came and responded to a call to arms, to pursue what
was properly seen then as being in the Australian national interest. Their
deeds belong along side the deeds of others who fought for Australian and
in Australia's interests in so many conflicts, and most particularly in
World War I and World War II. And of course it is impossible for any Australian
to attend any commemoration of this kind without thinking immediately of
those young men and women of Australia who are in East Timor at present
doing their duty by this country, and doing their duty by the things that
we believe in, the values we hold and the values that we share in common
with so many other freedom loving nations around the world.
The bush tradition of Australia of course led to the formation of the Light
Horse, and its contribution in the Boer War, and subsequently its contribution
particularly in the Middle East in World War, belongs to the legend and
the folklore and the great achievements and the great history of the Australian
armed forces. In recent times there has been a regeneration of interest
in the role and the contribution of the Light Horse to the Australian military
tradition. And so it ought to be because it belongs very much to the heart
and soul of the Australian bush which is so very much part and parcel of
the kind of Australian nation in which all of us believe, and the kind of
Australian nation that we have come to love.
As we approach the centenary of the federation of Australia there is I am
sure right across our nation a growing interest in, and an affection for
and a desire to learn more about the great historical events that shaped
our country which surrounded the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia.
The readiness of Australians to go overseas in defence of an ideal, in defence
of the Australian national interest has always been there. The willingness
of Australians to involve themselves in a war between Great Britain and
the Boer Republics of South Africa was an early indication of the desire
of Australians to see themselves as playing a role not just in Australia
but around the world and was of course part and parcel of a strong imperial
sentiment that existed at that time all around Australia. We remember the
contribution of those men. We honour their sense of service, their sense
of sacrifice, and their willingness to respond to a call to arms and a call
to duty.
Importantly today we welcome the fact that the country in which they fought
so long ago is now a more open democratic society, embracing the principles
of freedom and equality and decent treatment of its citizens irrespective
of their race or their colour or their creed. And indeed the leadership
shown by men like Nelson Mandela in the modern South Africa is an inspiration
to people all around the world who love and care about freedom and the dignity
of men and women.
Can I congratulate those who have been responsible for organising this commemorative
event. Can I thank particularly those who've come from all around Australia,
all ages, all parts of our country, and from around the world, to play a
part in a very special celebration which honours the contribution of men
and women so long ago. A century ago today commemorates the outbreak of
the Boer War. Can I thank all of them for making a contribution because
it reminds all of us as Australians of our rich history, our varied history
and the willingness so long ago and in so many circumstances over the century
that has gone by since of Australians to respond to the call to do their
duty and to fight for what they saw and continue to see as the national
interest of our country. Thank you.
[ends]