Tomorrow morning, across our state, thousands of Victorians will come together to pause and thank the men and women who’ve served this nation. We do so because, no matter the conflict or combat role, those heroes deserve our respect and recognition.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However, one particular group of veterans hasn’t always received the acknowledgement that’s due.
Even today – with more women than ever serving with the Australian Defence Forces – many are still being challenged about their service.
It’s because some people still have the wrong idea about women’s involvement in the armed forces – and their capacity and ability to serve.
Others incorrectly assume that these women are wearing their father’s or grandfather’s medals, instead of their own.
It means that many of our female veterans are not only reluctant to wear the badges of honour that their service earnt them, but that they’re reluctant to take part in Anzac Day commemorations.
As I’m sure any fair-minded Australian would agree, if you serve our nation, you deserve to proudly march.
It’s why this year – for the first time – many of our female veterans will walk together.
It’s a big shift. Because for more than 40 years, women’s ex-service groups have marched individually in most major parades.
As of tomorrow, those women will march together as one.
They’ll be marching under the banner of “By The Left”.
The movement draws its name from the tradition of veterans wearing their medals on the left, while the family members of those who’ve served wear them on the right.
“By the Left” is a proud and yet simple statement: these women should be proud of their service.
There’ll be another big difference at this year’s march.
Our servicemen and women will walk in reverse chronological order, with our most recent veterans leading from the front.
It’s a reminder for all of us that the peace and prosperity we all enjoy, continues to come at a cost.
And also that, whether they served 50 years ago or five months ago, our veterans all have one thing in common: they’re a family, and they have each other’s backs.
That solidarity extends beyond borders. Because in the final year of our Anzac Centenary – and as we approach the 100th anniversary of the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux – we remember our bond with the French town that was liberated by Australian forces.
Children from the École Victoria school in Villers-Bretonneux continue to learn about the service of our nation’s troops – and continue to hold to the bonds created by their forebears. Most recently, during the Black Saturday bushfires, these students raised money to help rebuild one of our three schools that were burnt to the ground – just as Victorian children did for their school after World War I.
It shows just how alive – and far-reaching – the Anzac spirit continues to be.
So, as the sun rises on this year’s Anzac Day, I encourage every one of our state’s veterans to proudly share what each of them brings to this special day of commemoration. And I urge every Victorian to remember, to reflect and to thank our veterans – whether young or old, current or ex-serving, man or woman – for their service and sacrifice.
