Author: sawomensmemorial

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Kaurna People of the Adelaide Plains, and pay my respects to their elders past and present, emerging leaders and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders gathered here today. Good morning. It is a great privilege for Linda and me to be here this […]

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, distinguished guests. I welcome the veterans who have served, those that continue to serve and the families that love and support them. As we say in the Air Force Association, we are united in service and sacrifice, and I thank you all for your service and for […]

Bangka Day 75th anniversary memorial service at the Australian War Memorial by the Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson AO, Director of the Australian War Memorial Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free. The first line of our national anthem. We sing it often. We will sing it today. Less often do we […]

Dr Barbara Orchard is an Old Scholar of Mitcham Primary and Wilderness Schools, is a medical graduate from Adelaide University and has a Master of Public Health degree from Sydney University. She played cricket at Club, University, State and International level, is a former President of the South Australian Women’s Cricket Association, Trustee of the […]

His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, Governor of South Australia. Acknowledge: I feel very privileged to be here at the South Australian Women’s Memorial Playing Fields this morning to attend the Bangka Day Memorial Service. I appreciate that this story has been told many times in many ways and by nurses who were actually on […]

First part is to thank those who invited me to speak to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land namely the Kaurna people. The day is a commemoration and acknowledgement of the commitment and values of a previous generation that enabled them to survive and Australia to be one of the victors in World War […]

Thank you Colonel. Your Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, Minister Key, Mayor of the City of Marion, Fellow POW’s, Dr Chapman, Deputy Commissioner, Service Personnel, Members of Parliament, Ladies and Gentlemen. I was honoured almost beyond belief to have been selected by the Committee to speak to you today for “approximately 20 minutes duration”. I now […]