PM Transcripts

I'
FOR MEDIA 3 MAY 1991
Senator Nick Bolkus, Minister for Administrative Services,
and Mr Ben Humphreys, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, will
travel to Crete to attend on my behalf the ceremonies in
commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of
Greece and Crete.
I am also delighted and honoured that the Greek Deputy Prime
Minister, Mr Tzannetakis, has been able to visit Australia
to celebrate this anniversary.
The principal commemoration of the Battle of Greece and
Crete will be held in Crete during the week of 20 May,
exactly 50 years after the commencement of the battle for
Crete itself. A memorial overlooking the Galatas
battlefield will be consecrated as part of the ceremonies.
Australian Defence Force involvement in the ceremonies on
Crete will be substantial. The Chief of the Defence Force,
the Chief of the General Staff, and 104 soldiers including
an honour guard and band will participate, and HMAS Perth, a
successor of the original ship that took part in the Battle
of Crete, will visit Greece and Crete. The Acting Minister
for Defence will be announcing full details of the ADF
participation today.
Ceremonies in Australia to mark this important anniversary
have included services at the Australian War Memorial and
the Hellenic Memorial attended by Mr Tzannetakis, Defence
Forces representatives and community and veterans' groups,
and a wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph, Martin Place,
in Sydney on 20 April 1991, which I attended.
On this 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Greece and Crete,
Australians r-ecall the sacrifices of Australian servicemen
and of the Greek people during the Greek campaign and the
Battle of Crete of 1941.
In marking the Anniversary Australia pays tribute to the
heroic efforts made to secure our freedom, and help to keep
alive the memory of the sacrifices that both Greeks and
Australians made to this end.