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Dateline
- April 26, 2008
Minister
delivers key address at ANZAC Service in France |
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Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, today delivered
the Commemorative Address at the Anzac Community Service held
at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.
Each year the people of Villers-Bretonneux hold an Anzac service
on the Saturday closest to Anzac Day to honour the Australian
soldiers who fought to protect their town 90 years ago.
The full transcript of Minister Griffin's Commemorative Address
follows.
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The
Hon Alan Griffin MP, Minister for Veterans' Affairs.
Commemorative Address at the Anzac Community Service, Villers-Bretonneux,
France.
Saturday 26 April 2008.
It is my pleasure to welcome you all, people of France and
of Australia, to the annual Anzac Community Service.
C'est pour moi un honneur d'être l'invité des
habitants de Villers-Bretonneux. Vous êtes des hôtes
charmants et très accueillants, et nous apprécions
sincèrement votre hospitalité.
(I would like to say what an honour it is to be a guest
of the people of Villers-Bretonneux. You have been charming
and welcoming hosts and your hospitality is most appreciated.)
Yesterday we had the privilege of sharing the Australian
experience of an Anzac Day Dawn Service at this magnificent
Memorial.
Today is an opportunity to share the French experience of
this community service, a tradition that has an equally
proud history.
It has been a unique experience to visit France and to see
here so many reminders of home.
It tells me just how strong the connection was, has been,
and still is between the people of Villers-Bretonneux and
the people of Australia.
I am proud to say that the French-Australian connection
has been strongly supported by my home state of Victoria.
In the years after the war, it was the city of Melbourne
that adopted Villers-Bretonneux and raised money to help
rebuild the town.
The 'Victoria School' reminds us that it was Victorian children
who collected money to help rebuild the school.
And I am pleased to say that Villers-Bretonneux continues
to enjoy a 'Twin Towns' relationship with Robinvale in Victoria.
As we celebrate and renew our friendship, the question could
be asked, "why is there such a strong bond between
this town in France, and my home country so far away"?
For their part, I believe the answer for the people of Villers-Bretonneux
is plain for all to see.
In 1919, once the war was over, the Mayor promised that
his town would keep alive the memory of the Australian soldiers
who liberated Villers-Bretonneux.
And for nine decades, the people have been as good as his
word. Your Franco-Australian Museum, the continuing work
of the France-Australia Association and services such as
this each year have made sure that Australia is never forgotten
here.
As I said at our Dawn Service yesterday, you have shown
great care and respect for the memory of our soldiers, and
I thank you again for your dedication.
On Australia's part, the question remains why Villers-Bretonneux
has been the focus of Australian commemoration in France
for 90 years.
Why was it chosen as the site for the Australian National
Memorial and our Memorial to the Missing?
Not far from here are other battlefields of tremendous significance
to Australia's history in France:
* Fromelles, the site of the bloodiest 24 hours ever seen
by Australians in our wartime history;
* Pozieres, where the soil is said to be "more densely
sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth";
* Bullecourt, where we lost 10,000 men killed or wounded
in April and May 1917;
* Hamel, where our troops under the command of Sir John
Monash in July 1918 defeated the German forces in just 93
minutes; and
* the land behind me leading to Mont St Quentin and Peronne,
where the Australians helped inflict a devastating defeat
on five German Divisions, in what was described as one of
the "finest feats of arms in a time rich in innumerable
deeds of heroism".
All of these would be fitting locations. So why here, in
this place?
The answer is that Villers-Bretonneux was the scene of a
truly Australian victory.
In their first years on the Western Front, the men of the
Australian Imperial Force were part of two Anzac Corps,
each under British command.
In November 1917, the AIF Divisions were drawn together
as the Australian Corps.
A few months later, the battle at Villers-Bretonneux was
won by Australian troops, fighting in the Australian Corps,
under Australian leadership.
As a result, this place carries its own special significance
to Australia's wartime heritage.
It makes Villers-Bretonneux a most fitting location to remember,
not only those who fought here, but all Australians who
served on the Western Front.
And so today I am honoured to welcome you to this service,
and to invite you all - people of France and Australia -
to remember all of those who have given their lives in the
defence of our nations.
Mes amis, l'Australie n'oubliera pas la France. Nous nous
souviendrons toujours de Villers-Bretonneux. Cette terre
restera le symbole de notre profonde amitié.
(My friends, Australia will remember France. We will always
remember Villers-Bretonneux. This land will stand as a symbol
of our great friendship.)
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