Mr RUDD (7:40 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 the conclusion of the Second World War. As part of our local commemorations, I hosted a ceremony on 25 October 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 held at the Easts Leagues Club in Coorparoo in Brisbane. Over 350 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 state members of parliament Gary Fenlon and Pat Purcell. I want to give particular thanks to our guest speaker for the day, Marie Dwyer from the War Widows Guild. The War Widows Guild performs a first-class function in our community in supporting widows who have had to fend for themselves in what has often been a difficult life. I also want to pay thanks to Betty Sinden, who attended as a special guest, representing the Friends of Balmoral Cemetery. Sixty veterans received specially made commemorative medallions and were entertained by the Coorparoo Secondary College Saxophone Ensemble. I seek leave to table the names of those individuals who were honoured in our local ceremony.

Leave granted.

Mr RUDD —I thank the member for Sturt. 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 the headquarters for General Douglas MacArthur. None of us in this parliament—in particular, none of us from the state of Queensland—will ever forget the Brisbane Line.

After the war, many of Queensland’s returned soldiers and their families built their homes on Brisbane’s south side. Many of those homes were in suburbs that grew up in my own electorate of Griffith—areas such as Coorparoo, Bulimba, Morningside, Greenslopes, Cannon Hill, Fairfield and Annerley—leaving a permanent mark on the development and character of many of our local suburbs. 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.

One of the remarkable things I find with veterans in my community—and I am sure I speak on behalf of all members of parliament—is that many decades after having completed their service for their country they are still actively engaged in service to their local community. It is no small coincidence that those who have given so much to their country feel compelled even into their later years to give all that they can to others in their community work.

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, the Ithaca South Brisbane RSL, the National Servicemen’s RSL, the Norman Park RSL, the Stephens RSL and the Yeronga-Dutton Park RSL. It is my privilege to attend many of their Anzac Day services each 25 April.

I would also like to pay particular tribute to the Friends of Balmoral Cemetery. This is one of Brisbane’s oldest cemeteries, and it lies in the middle of my electorate. Some years ago a group of volunteers decided to form the association with the object of maintaining this important historical monument within our local community and within that to particularly take on the responsibility of maintaining the graves of veterans. Some hundreds of veterans from the Boer War to the present are buried in the Balmoral Cemetery and the Friends of Balmoral Cemetery have played a first-class role in ensuring that their legacy is properly honoured. They have also put together many local histories and biographies concerning those who are interred in the cemetery. I pay tribute to their community work.

I conclude by simply saying on behalf of the Australian parliament how much we honour the contribution of war veterans and their families in ensuring this country’s freedom. (Time expired)