We Will Remember Them
The Rev Fred Nile MLC, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has supported the ‘Anzac Memorial (Building) Amendment Bill 2010' in the NSW Upper House.
"On behalf of the Christian Democratic Party I am pleased to support the Anzac Memorial (Building) Amendment Bill 2010. This bill is to reform the composition and management arrangements of the trust for the Anzac Memorial Building. Those of us who have had active involvement in the war memorial in Hyde Park congratulate all those who have had any role in its planning, construction, upkeep and maintenance. It is a wonderful memorial in the heart of our city, and being located in the centre of our Hyde Park makes it available to all local citizens to visit and overseas visitors to inspect. As members know, on Anzac Day a service is always held in the forecourt of the war memorial", said Rev Fred Nile.
"After this year's Anzac Day march, in which I took part as normal, I was pleased to attend the special Anzac Day service. This year the guest preacher was the Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen. The second address was given by the Premier of New South Wales, Kristina Keneally. The service was supported by a large number of guests and visitors. The NSW Police Band provided the music for the hymns and other school cadet units provided various aspects of the service, such as the carrying of flags. The Scot's College Scottish band also took part. It was a moving service, as it is each year. I invite all members to attend if they can.
The war memorial was completed in November 1934. Prior to completion a legislative base was established for its operation in the form of the Anzac Memorial Building Act 1923. Apparently, there were many proposals for a large war memorial in Sydney by a number of organisations and committees. However, the Government, with good policy, brought it all together into one trust for one large impressive memorial built in Sydney. A trust initially was appointed comprising the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition and the Lord Mayor, along with three ex-service organisations, including the forerunner of the RSL. The Commonwealth Bank and the Public Trustee served on the trust as keepers of the fund.
The building has a great message when one looks at its various aspects and the wording inside. Of course, this memorial is only one of more than 3,000 throughout New South Wales. Obviously, over the years the memorial reached a point of needing renovations and improvements. I congratulate the State Government on allocating $6 million for a capital upgrade of the war memorial, which was completed recently. This was the first substantial renovation of the building since it was completed in 1934. The building reopened on its seventy-fifth anniversary on 24 November 2009. Obviously, the memorial needs an annual budget and I congratulate the Government again on its decision to increase the memorial's budget support by $750,000 per annum, commencing in 2009-10, to bring the memorial's recurrent budget to a total of $1.25 million. This will ensure that the war memorial is kept in the fine condition it warrants.
The bill will update the membership of the trust and again will appoint the Premier as chairman, to be routinely represented by the Minister Assisting the Premier on Veterans' Affairs as proxy. The bill will also appoint the President of the Returned and Services League of Australia, New South Wales branch, as deputy chair of the trust, and it will continue the practice of the Leader of the Opposition and the Lord Mayor of Sydney serving as members. In addition, the bill will add the Director General of the Department of Education and Training, the State Librarian, the Government Architect and a community member as trust members.
New section 3B states that the community representative should be someone with financial or business skills. I assume that will help the war memorial to operate financially efficiently. I am sure many trust members would have financial and business abilities and knowledge from their various roles. The bill also will assign the RSL New South Wales branch a position on the trust currently held by the TB Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen's Association as that association no longer is able to keep that role. The bill adds to the trust powers a responsibility to contribute to the education of the community about Australia's military history and heritage, and the authority to delegate its powers. The war memorial requires an efficient trust to carry out those duties, as they are so successfully carried out in Canberra. In recent years the national war memorial has effectively provided information about various projects to visitors about different aspects of wars in which Australia was involved, up to the Vietnam war.
I am pleased to support the bill as it reminds us of the famous phrase "As we that are left grow old, we will remember them. Lest we forget." In conclusion, I suggest that perhaps consideration could be given to the presence of an honour guard at the memorial on special occasions. This practice is adopted in the United States and many European countries at their main war memorials, many of which I have visited-including those in Poland and Bulgaria. I believe this honour guard would link the memorial with our serving armed forces. I am pleased to support the bill", Rev Nile stated.