Thursday, 2 May 2024

Anzac Day

Ella GEORGE (Lara) (10:03): It was an honour to visit Gallipoli for Anzac Day along with other Victorian members of Parliament and the Minister for Veterans. This year marks 109 years since the Anzacs landed at Gallipoli in World War I. At Anzac Cove, looking at the sheer cliff face, you can understand the impossible task that our diggers had ahead of them. The campaign was a baptism of fire for the young Australian and New Zealand servicemen, and despite the odds they displayed remarkable courage, resilience and camaraderie. The Gallipoli campaign touched so many communities across Victoria, with brave young men enlisting with their friends and brothers to defend their country and too few returning home.

Eighty-four diggers from the Geelong region were killed during the eight-month Gallipoli campaign, and today I acknowledge Private John Bates, who lived in Little River and attended Lara State School and the Gordon Technical College in Geelong. He was killed in action on 8 May 1915 at Krithia, Gallipoli. He was 23. His name is inscribed on the memorial gates at the Lara Recreation Reserve, and he is remembered at the Helles Memorial on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

At the Lone Pine Memorial I laid a wreath on behalf of the Lara electorate, remembering those who have served and those who did not make it home. I had the honour to present a commemorative plaque on behalf of the Lara RSL to İsmail Kaşdemir, chairman of the Turkish Directorate of Gallipoli Historical Site, to commemorate the service of veterans from Lara who fought in the battles at Gallipoli. Thank you to Turkish ambassador Ufuk Gezer and consul general Doğan Işık for their support of our delegation.

I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the Norlane and Lara RSLs for their Anzac Day services, which attracted thousands of attendees. Today and every day, lest we forget.