Senator HERRON (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs) (10:09 PM) —Last Thursday in Switzerland I represented the government at the ecumenical service for those who lost their lives at Interlaken. The previous Wednesday I met with the survivors and Swiss officials.

I would like to put on the record my thanks to the President of Switzerland, Madam Dreifuss; Vice President Adolph Ogi; Canton President, Samuel Bendt; and the many officials who responded to this tragic event with outstanding sensitivity. I should also like to put on record my thanks for the exemplary manner in which Australian officials represented their government and the support they gave to the survivors and the families of the victims. Ambassadors Paul O'Sullivan, Les Luck and Geoff Raby all went to Interlaken and they and their officers provided comfort to the bereaved relatives. Particular mention should be made of Consul-General Malcolm Skelly, who established an office there immediately on learning of the accident and who worked tirelessly, frequently without sleep, over the next nine days.

Those who have experienced the loss of a child have some understanding of the grief that this entails, but few would have felt the helplessness associated with the sudden, unexpected tragic death of their loved ones on the other side of the world, in a foreign country. Sir William Deane spoke at the service on behalf of the Australian people and made a moving tribute which captured the emotions of all those present. I believe it should be recorded in Hansard and seek leave to have it incorporated.

Leave granted.

The speech read as follows—

ADDRESS BY SIR WILLIAM DEANE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE CANYONING TRAGEDY INTERLAKEN, SWITZERLAND

THURSDAY, 5 AUGUST 1999

We are gathered in great sadness to mourn the deaths of the 21 young people who were killed in the canyoning accident near here, last week. They came from five nations Switzerland, the United Kingdom, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Their loss is a profound tragedy for their families and friends who are in the thoughts and the prayers of all of us at this service today. We pray with them for their loved ones who have died. And we also pray that, in the words of our Lord (Matthew Ch.5, v.4), they will truly be comforted.

Fourteen of the victims of the tragedy came from Australia. Collectively, their deaths represent probably the greatest single peacetime loss of young Australians outside our own country. That loss affects not only their families and friends, dreadful though that is. It also deeply affects our nation as a whole and all of its people.

I have, as Governor-General of Australia, with Senator John Herron of our Government come here on behalf of Australia and of all Australians, to mourn them, to be with and to sympathise with their family members and friends who are here, and to demonstrate how important they were to their homeland. For us, the tragedy is somehow made worse by the fact that they died so far away from the homes the families, the friends and the land they loved so well.

Australia and Switzerland are on opposite sides of the globe. Yet, in this age of modern telecommunications, one effect of the disaster has been to bring our two countries closer together. On every night since the accident, Switzerland has been in every Australian home that has been tuned into the television news, as well as on the radio, in all our newspapers and other media outlets. Conversely, the fact that two-thirds of those who died came from Australia has given rise to an increased awareness here in Switzerland of my country and its people.

Switzerland has, of course, itself experienced the shock and sorrow of overseas tragedy in the past. Perhaps that has heightened the sympathy and understanding which it has shown in recent days. I have already had the privilege of meeting with you, Madam President, and with Vice-President Ogi and exchanging condolences. I would, on this solemn occasion, like to express to the Swiss authorities and to the people of Switzerland, particularly the people of the Wilderswil and Interlaken regions, our abiding gratitude for all the help and assistance they have provided in the aftermath of the tragedy. In particular, I pay tribute to the bravery of all those who worked in the rescue efforts. We thank them for their skill and dedication. I also particularly mention the competence, the compassion and the kindness of all who have helped to look after the survivors and the relatives who have come here.

The young people—certainly the young Australians—who have been killed all shared the spirit of adventure, the joy of living, the exuberance and the delight of youth.

That spirit inspired their lives, and lit the lives of all who knew than, until the end. We remember that and so many other wonderful things about them as we mourn them and grieve for young lives cut so tragically short. And all of us feel and share in their collective loss. For these 21 young men and women were part—a shining part—of our humanity. As John Donne wrote, "No man is an island". Anyone's "death diminishes" us all because we are all "involved in mankind".

Yesterday, my wife and I, together with family members and fiends of the Australian victims visited the canyon where the accident occurred. There, in memory of each of the 14 young people who came from our homeland we cast into the Saxetenbach 14 sprigs of wattle, our national floral emblem, which we had brought with us from Government House in Canberra. Somehow, we felt that was bringing a little of Australia to them.

It was also in a symbolic way, helping to bring them home to our county. That is not to suggest that their spirit and their memory will not linger forever here in Switzerland, at the place where they died. Rather, it is to suggest that a little part of Switzerland has become, and will always be, to some extent, part of Australia. As it will also be part of other countries outside Switzerland—New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom—from whence they came.

It is still winter at home. But the golden wattles are coming into bloom. Just as these young men and women were in the flower of their youth. And when we are back in Australia we will remember how the flowers and the perfume and the pollen of their and our homeland were carried down the river where they died to Lake Brienz in this beautiful country on the far side of the world.

May they all rest with God.

Senator HERRON —On behalf of the government, I wish to join with Sir William Deane in expressing my sincere condolences to all of those who are bereaved.