From the Assistant Minister
The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP Assistant Minister for Defence and Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
On 19 February, I had the privilege of being in Darwin to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the city’s bombing in the Second World War. A swift and relentless attack saw more than 240 Japanese aircraft unleash their fury on the unsuspecting city – more than 250 lives were lost that day in two separate raids.
We remembered the sacrifice, the fear and the courage that marked that fateful day, and the spirit of Darwin, and of Australia, that never truly faltered. (You can read more on page 27.)
One organisation that is keeping the spirit alive today is Disaster Relief Australia (DRA), which unites the skills and experiences of ADF veterans with first responders to deploy disaster response teams to where they’re needed most. I recently had the pleasure of thanking DRA’s volunteers, who have been doing important work in South East Queensland to help communities recover from intense storms and flooding. Disaster victims told me that when they saw the DRA volunteers in their trusty blue shirts knocking on their door, there was a sense of relief. To all the DRA volunteers, keep up the good work! (You can read more about DRA’s work on page 18.)
In February, I was proud to dedicate a new sculpture at the Australian War Memorial in recognition of those who have suffered as a result of their service to our nation. For Every Drop Shed in Anguish stands in our nation’s capital as a lasting reminder of the impact service has on individuals and families. (Read more on page 30.)
Over the summer holiday period, I called on Australians to reach out and show their support for their veteran mates and families who may have been experiencing heightened stress, anxiety or depression, during what can be a difficult time for some. Anzac Day, while a time of commemoration and gratitude for veterans’ service, may also bring up similar emotions. Please keep an eye out for each other – and know that one conversation can make a difference.
I encourage those in need of support to reach out to Open Arms. (More information about their work is on pages 12–14.) The service is staffed by trained professionals who understand military service. Veterans and their families can be confident they will be able to access the support they need from experts who understand life in uniform. Please contact 1800 011 046, available 24/7.