Mr RUDD (12:51 PM) —My purpose in addressing the parliament today is to honour the contribution of many of Brisbane’s war veterans in our recent commemoration of the 60th anniversary of World War II. As part of our local commemorations, I hosted a ceremony on 15 August to present medallions to local veterans and their families. I would like to use this opportunity in the parliament today to honour their contribution to our country and to our community.

The Victory in the Pacific medallion presentation ceremony was co-hosted by the Colmslie RSL subbranch as well as the Greek club in South Brisbane. The Colmslie RSL sub-branch, under the leadership of its president, Mr Ernie Adsett, has been active in the Morningside area for decades and every year organises the march from Bulimba Library to memorial park on Anzac Day. I thank Ernie, the committee and the members of the Colmslie RSL for their assistance with the ceremony.

Over 250 south-side residents attended the ceremony to celebrate the efforts of our local veterans. I was joined in honouring our veterans by Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Anetts, commanding officer of the Bulimba Barracks, and local counsellors Shayne Sutton and Catherine Bermingham. Over 80 veterans received specially made commemorative medallions and were entertained by the Brisbane State High School symphonic band under the direction of their conductor, Bradly Ruben. Also attending the ceremony and assisting with the presentation were cadets from the Anglican Church Grammar School in East Brisbane. I thank both schools for their contributions.

It is important to note the contribution that Brisbane’s war veterans have made to our community and our country. The city of Brisbane played a vital role in Australia’s defence during the Second World War, serving as headquarters for General Douglas MacArthur, and none of us in this parliament will forget the Brisbane Line. After the war, many of Queensland’s returned soldiers and their families built their homes on Brisbane’s south side, particularly in the areas around Coorparoo, Bulimba, Morningside, Greenslopes, Cannon Hill, Fairfield and Annerley, leaving a permanent mark on the development and character of many of the suburbs of Brisbane’s south side. Over the last 60 years these veterans and their families have continued to serve our community through their volunteer work and participation in local community groups.

The south side is home to a number of RSLs and service groups, who have ensured that the legacy and sacrifice of Australia’s veterans are remembered. These include the Cannon Hill District and Vietnam Services RSL, the Coorparoo and Districts RSL, the Hellenic RSL, the Holland Park-Mount Gravatt RSL, Ithaca and South Brisbane RSL, National Servicemen’s RSL, the Norman Park RSL, Stevens RSL and Yeronga-Dutton Park RSL.

Also in attendance at the ceremony on 15 August were the Friends of Balmoral Cemetery. Friends of Balmoral Cemetery were formed in 2001 with the mission of preserving the history of the Balmoral Cemetery. Balmoral Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Brisbane and plays a vital part in the history of our city. The cemetery is the burial ground for veterans from more than 26 military units, from all three services, spanning wars back to the Boer War. Under the leadership of their president, Kelvin Johnson, and their secretary, Betty Sinden, Friends of Balmoral Cemetery have been working on preparing a heritage trail. This trail will record the history of the lifestyle and times of Brisbane’s south-eastern suburbs during the Second World War and will be a major contribution to our local history.

The work carried out by Friends of Balmoral Cemetery is important because it highlights that other major theatre of operations during the Second World War: the home front. With almost a million men in uniform, Australian women faced new challenges and new pressures. The Second World War highlighted, however, the ingenuity of Australian women on the home front in coping with wartime shortages, food rationing and the rationing of clothing. Thousands of women worked on the land in the Women’s Land Army and worked in factories and other essential services. Thousands more women contributed to the war effort through voluntary service, particularly with the Red Cross.

On top of this, Australian women dealt with the full brunt of rationing in all areas of life, with items such as stockings and soaps simply unavailable and other items such as tea and meat heavily rationed. In honouring our veterans I also want to honour the sacrifices made by these Australian women and their families on the home front. Their cheerfulness, resourcefulness, courage and dogged resistance at a very difficult time in Australia’s history represent a true testimony to the Australian spirit. The sacrifice of our veterans in the service of our nation protected the rights and freedoms that we enjoy today. The challenge for future generations will be to ensure that they never lose sight of that sacrifice. I am confident that they never will.

I take this opportunity again in the parliament to recognise formally the contribution of those veterans whom we honoured at the 60th commemorative celebrations in my local area for the end of the Pacific war. I seek leave of the Main Committee to table a list of the names of those who participated as representatives of the local veterans community.

Leave granted.