Speech by Hon Michael Ronaldson at the opening of the Anglesea and District War Memorial on Sunday 27 February 2022.
“Today we think of the people of Ukraine, saddened by the knowledge that the threat to world peace is ever present.
To the Mayor Libby Stapleton, Libby Coker MP, the Hon Dan Tehan and other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Madame Mayor, thank you for the great support from the Shire and Dan Tehan, a former Minister for Veterans Affairs himself, can I say how pleased we are that you have joined us.
I know that lan is going to say more about this but to the sponsors, thank you. Without your fantastic support this would not have happened. To the community organisations in Anglesea, thank you, and to the RSL well done. Can l, on behalf of the Anglesea community call out for special mention the organising committee and thank Keith Hornibrook and Angie Hunt for their vision.
Before I start my address, can I ask all ex and current service personnel to stand or raise your hands so we can publicly acknowledge and thank you for your service and sacrifice.
Today is not about glorifying war. lt is about remembrance because a Nation that fails to remember is a Nation that fails itself.
During my address l want to include the children and young people present. lt is they above all who will carry the torch of remembrance into the future. lt is they who will have to protect and nurture our precious democracy and our way of life. lt is they who must know that the freedoms we enjoy today have come at a great price. For many this meant making the ultimate sacrifice. We come together today to remember those from our District who served the Nation. Their names are forever etched on this beautiful memorial.
We remember:
Those who served overseas;
Those who served in Australia;
Those who were Nashos;
Those who were part of Peace Keeping Missions.
We remember the families of those who served.
We remember the women of Australia, who through WW1 and WW2, kept the factories open and the farms producing.
We remember the nurses who cared for our wounded and who lost their lives doing so.
We remember the 38,000 prisoners of war and more than 8,500 who Iost their lives in incarceration, often in the most appalling conditions.
We remember the injustices wrought upon our lndigenous servicemen in WW1 and WW2, who were equals in the trenches but not when they returned home.
We remember our Vietnam Vets who were so badly treated on their return. Shunned by our Nation even though they were serving the Nation at the Nation’s request. lndeed, many having been conscripted to do so.
Boys and girls there is one name on the Memorial I want to single out; Private Alfred John Evans. By the way, can I ask you to put your hands up if you have ever played on the horse and wagon behind us?
Well, Private Evans and his family lived in Anglesea River as it was then called. No one knows the exact population of Anglesea at the time but it is likely to have been in the dozens only.
AIfred was the eldest of 11 children, 10 of whom were born on their farm. His father owned a coach business as well as 100-acre farm. They used to cart firewood on a dray similar to this one to the Belmont Hotel and bring back supplies for the Anglesea residents. The trip took two days and they slept under the wagon at night.
On one of these trips in October 1916, nearly 106 years ago, Alfred enlisted in Geelong to join the army. He joined the 58th Battalion and left for overseas on the 16th Dec. The trip by ship took two months. After an initial illness, he eventually went to France at the end of August 1917. He fought in various campaigns between September 1917 and July 1918. He was killed in action on the 4th July 1918, aged 25. Just months before the war finished.
There is no known grave for Private Alfred Evans as he was buried where he fell. He is the only person from Anglesea to have enlisted and died in WW1. An obituary placed by his family in the Geelong Advertiser on the 20th July 1918, just after his death, read:
Only a grave of a hero,
Only a mound of earth.
Far from the land of the wattle
A place that gave him birth.
Somewhere in France he is lying,
He answered his country’s call,
He died an Australian hero,
Fighting to save us all.
Private Alfred John Evan’s name is now on our memorial. A memorial in his home town. We remember him and those whose names are behind me, as we also remember those whose names are on memorials all around the country from the smallest towns to the largest cities.
We must always remember them. Lest we forget.
It is now my great honour to open the Anglesea and District War Memorial.”