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with Robyn Preston MP
When I think of our Australian calendar, Anzac Day for me stands out as one of the most significant days of the year, particularly when you reflect on the historical library of conflicts and battles our serving members have selflessly participated in.
It is a solemn day of remembrance when we pay our respects to the sixteen thousand Australian and New Zealand troops who led a campaign to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula. By the time the sun had set that April evening, more than two thousand soldiers had been either killed or wounded. Mothers, wives, brothers, sisters and children had farewelled their loved ones as they marched off to war, but many never saw them return.
Although this battle was never
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considered a victory, people always regarded the Aussie soldiers highly for their tenacity, courage, mateship and dependability and we will always remember them.
Hawkesbury celebrates several significant Defence milestones this year.
RAAF Base Richmond celebrates its 100 th year on 30 th June 2025 and I proudly congratulate Wing Commander Andrew Burke, the Richmond RAAF members and their families for the outstanding contribution they make to our community in keeping us safe and supporting our community especially in recent times with natural disasters.
Of course, RAAF Base Richmond is home to the 737 large air tanker, the Mary Bashir, which is used year-round as a firefighting aircraft that drops water onto fire impacted areas.
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The base has been an integral part of the Hawkesbury community. It has also been home to some of the longest surviving veterans – including Cunningham‘ Jock’ Cassels, No. 38 Squadron and David‘ Bruce’ Robertson, No. 30 Squadron.
Recently, I joined Bruce in celebrating his 105 th birthday. It was in the early hours of 1 June 1942 that Bruce made history as he monitored communications and detected an unusual Morse code that identified as a Japanese transmission. Two direction-finding stations were able to identify the transmission as coming from a submarine off Sydney Heads. This was the“ mother sub” which had earlier deployed three midget submarines that had entered Sydney Harbour. A Lockheed Hudson bomber was deployed to hunt for it but was unable to locate the mother submarine.
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Bruce tells his story with great passion and he wants adults and students to understand our Defence history which has shaped our values and the love and loyalty we have for this country.
War Memorials are an important reminder of the sacrifices made by our Defence personnel. Just recently, I reintroduced a Private Members’ Bill, the Summary Offences Amendment( War Memorials and Other Protected Places) Bill 2025, which calls for tougher penalties to those who disrespect and desecrate our war memorials.
The Bill is expected to come to Parliament for debate soon and I hope to receive the support of my Parliamentary colleagues, regardless of their political persuasion. Honouring our veterans by protecting war memorials is the least we can do. Lest we forget.
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