McEwen, Sen Anne

Senator McEWEN (South Australia—Government Whip in the Senate) (23:44): In July 1942 the Japanese landed near Gona on the north coast of Papua, now Papua New Guinea, and advanced along the Kokoda Track over the rugged Owen Stanley Range, eventually coming within 48 kilometres of Port Moresby. For four months on the treacherous terrain and jungles of the track, Australian soldiers fought side by side with Papuan infantry, forcing Japanese troops slowly back along the Kokoda Track. Assisting the troops were PNG civilians who became affectionately known as the fuzzy wuzzy angels. After Kokoda was secured, the fighting moved to the north coast beachheads, where Australians and Americans attacked Japanese positions at Buna, Gona and Sanananda. With increased supplies, reinforcements and air support, the Allies took all three strongholds from the Japanese by January 1943. Those battles of Kokoda and the beachheads cost more than 1,800 Australian lives, and more than 4,000 were wounded or struck down with terrible illnesses. Earlier this month, a group of eight veterans returned to Papua New Guinea to mark the 70th anniversary of those battles. South Australians Ray Baldwin and Eric Sambell, aged 91 and 92 respectively, were amongst the group of veterans returning to the scene of the campaigns. The veterans took part in a number of commemorative activities while in Papua New Guinea, including commemorative services at Kokoda, Popondetta and Bomana War Cemetery. For most of the veterans who fought in the most gruelling of conditions, it was their first time back in the country where they lost so many mates. For Ray Baldwin, it was his third trip back to Papua New Guinea, but he said it did not get any easier. Mr Baldwin, who served alongside my father in the 2/27th Battalion in Syria, Papua New Guinea and Borneo during World War II, said the painful memories of losing mates would never leave him. He said: When we left Australia and landed in New Guinea, we had 870 Other Ranks and 37 Officers. After the Battles of Kokoda and Gona, which was a hell hole, we had three Officers and 37 Other Ranks, so those are the memories I have. I knew so many of them and I've never met better people in my life. The special trip back to the battlefields was sponsored in part by the government, through the Department of Veterans' Affairs, and all of the veterans agreed it was an honour to be chosen to return to Papua New Guinea. However, while over there, it was not just the Australians being honoured. Our veterans were reunited with surviving fuzzy wuzzy angels and presented them with fuzzy wuzzy angel commemorative medallions at the Popondetta service. The eight veterans who travelled back this month from Western Australia, the ACT, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia represented all Australians who served and died in those battles. Today I think it is important that the memories of those men and women who fought for our country in all wars live on. For this reason I am a big fan of the federal government's Anzac Day Schools' Awards, an annual competition for schools around the country to get creative as they learn more about Australia's important wartime history. Recently I had the pleasure of attending Allendale East Area School in regional South Australia and Kildare College in Adelaide's north-eastern suburbs to present the schools with their prizes for the 2012 competition. For a relatively small regional area school, Allendale East Area School presented excellent work that formed their entry into the 2012 competition. Embarking on a journey that would teach them more about the spirit of the Anzacs, the year 6/7 students, led by Ms Julie Murdoch, ended up winning the South Australian primary state runner-up prize. Beginning early this year by listening to music and reading poetry, the students continued their learning with readings and in-depth discussions about diggers, trenches and the Anzac spirit. The class had a local veteran come and speak to them. By listening intently and asking questions, the students were able to get a personal insight into what it is like to be involved in war. I was most impressed to hear that, prior to Anzac Day this year, the class also invited a local woman to teach them how to construct wreaths made with flowers and foliage that the students had brought in from their own homes. On Anzac Day the students attended the Port MacDonnell dawn service, laying their handmade wreaths on the memorial on behalf of the school. All of this work was entered into the competition and received high praise from the judges, who stated that they were particularly impressed by the students' reflection on their activities and the attendance at their local community dawn service. When I visited the school, it was clear to me that the students had really enjoyed learning about the Anzacs. The poetry that was presented at the assembly was poignant and mature beyond their years, and all the students were enthusiastic about what they had learned over the course of the year. Along with school students who participated in the competition right across the country, the Allandale East year 6/7 class now have a much deeper understanding of those Australians who have served and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. For the third year in a row, I also recently had the pleasure of attending Kildare College, a Catholic girls school in Adelaide's eastern suburbs, to present them with their prize for the 2012 Anzac Day Schools' Awards. Kildare College yet again demonstrated excellence with their entry, winning both the national prize and the South Australian secondary category. This has added to the success of their previous entries which saw them win the South Australian secondary prize in both 2010 and 2011 as well as the award for best use of technology in 2010. In previous years, Kildare College have taken a great idea and produced a highly creative entry for the competition. This year was no different: 2012's year 10 history students published a book containing interviews and historical information on the contribution of women in war. As part of the entry, students interviewed female veterans from the Second World War through to current serving members. The entries were creative, thoughtful and well-researched tributes to the service of women and the sacrifice that they have made for Australia. As in previous years, the students at Kildare College have again created a piece of history that would otherwise have gone untold. Each year the students spend a great deal of time working on their interviews and striking up some great friendships with the veterans. Due to this, the students are able to extract deeply personal stories and memories, and they capture and relay their messages in a way that honours our current and former service men and women. I would like to officially congratulate the year 6/7 class from Allendale East Area School and the year 10 students from Kildare College involved in the Anzac Day Schools' Awards. I would encourage all Australian schools to get involved in the Anzac Day Schools' Awards and learn more about Australia's important wartime history, especially as we move towards the Anzac Centenary in 2014.