Wondai Reserve Forces Day Recognition Ceremony
Federal Member for Flynn, Mr Colin Boyce MP; South Burnett Regional Council, Mayor, Councillor Brett Otto and Councillors; Commander Ronald Forbes RAN (Ret’d); our MC today, Captain Walter Knight (Retd); Padre, Mr John Cheyne; representatives of the Australian Defence Forces; members of the Reserve Forces Day Committee and Wondai RSL Sub-Branch; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.
I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands of the South Burnett region, the Wakka Wakka and Wulli Wulli people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here today.
I made my first visit to the South Burnett region only last month for Nanango’s Pioneer Festival, and I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to return today, to be part of Wondai’s annual celebration of Reserve Forces Day.
There have been Reservists in Australia since Federation, and ever since, have played a vital role in the defence of Australia and in supporting peacekeeping, humanitarian and disaster-relief operations both around the world and here at home.
The wreath-laying and Parade this morning, together with this Recognition Ceremony, all acknowledge the service and sacrifice of the millions of men and women who have served in the Army, Airforce and Navy reserves for over 120 years.
These ceremonies also celebrate this community’s proud historic ties to World War II when twenty thousand troops were based here.
It is now 25 years since the first Reserve Forces Day parades were held in Australia as a way of raising awareness of the Reserves, encouraging enlistment, and thanking employers for their support.
Here in Wondai, the Parade and other ceremonies have been proudly maintained by the South Burnett Reserve Forces Day Committee for the past 18 years and I thank them for their dedication to ensuring that they continue.
As the Patron of QCWA Queensland, I also congratulate the members of the QCWA Wondai Branch. By providing refreshments through their coffee stall today, they are commemorating one of the great community responses to the wars of the 20th century – the Australian Comforts Fund.
The Fund enabled 12 million mugs of tea to be supplied to soldiers in the trenches in World War I, and CWA members here in Wondai were among the thousands of mothers, sisters, wives and daughters who sewed and knitted countless garments to be shipped to European battlefields in World War II to keep Australian soldiers safe and warm.
Today’s celebration is a great community legacy and I thank you all for your commitment to keeping these important traditions alive.