Wednesday, 25 May 2022

Anzac Day

Ms WARD (Eltham) (09:50): Again, thousands from our community stood in silent witness at the Eltham Anzac Day dawn service to remember and commemorate the sacrifices made by those who have served as defence personnel. It was the first Anzac Day in recent times we have all been able to share in person. I would like to acknowledge everybody who volunteered their time to make the day so special. Thank you to the students from local schools who woke up very early and stood in the cold to lay a wreath on behalf of their school, including several students who shared their talents with us: Emma Ludwick from Eltham College; the Suara choir from Eltham College; and Kiara You, Maddie McVeigh, Jess Butterworth and Claudia Dixon from Catholic Ladies College.

Thank you to Corporal Madeline Winnett for her service. She spoke honestly about her experience as one of the first women to join the Royal Australian Infantry Corps in the ADF and of her time helping to evacuate people from Kabul as part of the non-combatant evacuation operation in 2021. I would like to take the chance to thank guard commander Corporal Simon Marshall; the president of the Montmorency Eltham RSL, Glen Ferrarotto; the president of the Rotary Club of Eltham, Sally Squires; and all of their support teams for all of their work in ensuring our Anzac Day commemorations in both Montmorency and Eltham are so special. Lest we forget.