Tuesday, 28 May 2024

 Pauline RICHARDS (Cranbourne) (13:19): At dawn on 25 April 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers attempted to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in Türkiye. The soldiers who took part in this battle became known as Anzacs, and they are well known to all of us. It is well known as well that the Anzacs landed and met fierce resistance, with the campaign dragging on for eight tragic months. Both sides suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardship, and over 8000 Australian soldiers were killed. I was honoured to join colleagues from across the political spectrum to visit Gallipoli as part of the members of Parliament delegation to Türkiye last month to commemorate the 109th anniversary of that dawn landing. We were joined by delegations from other countries. I pay credit to the Deputy Prime Minister for his heartfelt address at the ceremony. I am particularly grateful for the role played by the Minister for Veterans in leading us on this delegation. The minister showed generosity, reverence, kindness and deep insight, and it was something I will never forget.

Amongst thousands of Australians who lost their lives at Gallipoli from April to December 1915, despite being just a small town at the time Cranbourne was impacted by the toll of war. It was a humbling experience to represent my constituents and visit the cemeteries across the peninsula, leaving a poppy on the graves, and I would particularly like to thank and acknowledge the member for Gippsland East for leading us on a side trip in a delegation. That was important in recognising the role of those who lost their lives. I would like to also thank Bill Rogers from the Dandenong–Cranbourne RSL for the role that he played, the Turkish ambassador to Australia Ufuk Gezer and the Melbourne – (Time expired)