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Volume 9, Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Roxby won’t forget
By Vanessa Switala NZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) Day is a moment to remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations and will remain a focus of the Roxby Downs community next week.
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Services are held annually on April 25, the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915 during World War One (WWI) to acknowledge the courage, mate ship and sacrifice of veterans who served for our country and fought for national identity. Jack Maguire President of the Roxby Downs and Andamooka Branch of the Returned and Services League (RSL) said this year a local spin will be put on the ANZAC Day memorial. Local community member Vicki Mason’s eldest son Adam Mason joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 2009. Adam has been serving in Afghanistan since the beginning of March this year and will serve in the Middle East for six months. Vicki has 12 family members who have served in the defence forces for Australia or New Zealand which include; both of her grandfathers, four great uncles, her father and two uncles, her eldest son, daughter-in-law and nephew. “We have a very proud history of people who have fought for Australia,” said Vicki. “Although my Dad never saw active service he was on call and off the mainland ready to go into battle. “ANZAC Day is very important. I’m a very patriotic person,” she said. Adam is 31 years old and attended Roxby Downs Area School completing Year 12 here after moving from Port Augusta. Vicki explained she used to write notes to Adam’s teachers while he was in school and when she found out he was to serve in Afghanistan she wanted to write a letter not allowing him to fight. She said Adam told her, “You know what the job entails or may entail when you sign up.” Although Vicki lives with the burden of her son fighting in Afghanistan she finds solace in the fact he is “doing his bit for Australia.” She smiled as she told The Monitor she has heard from Adam a few times since he has been in the Middle East via email. Vicki explained how Adam’s wife was due to have twins in May last year but the baby girl was born in January 2011 at 23 weeks old and passed away. Josh was born four days later and survived but was diagnosed with cerebral palsy just before Adam had to leave for Afghanistan. “But Adam stayed focused on doing his bit for
WOOMERA 5:30 AM
Gun fire breakfast (RSL) 6:30 AM
Dawn service (war memorial) 7:00 AM
Breakfast (RSL)
Australia,” Vicki said proudly. Vicki believes if Australians do not agree with having soldiers fight in the Middle East they should still support them. “We would not be living in this awesome country without the people who have fought for it. “We may not agree that our people are over there fighting but it’s better to fight on their turf rather than have them fight here,” said Vicki. “We need to show our support for those over there. They are putting their lives on the line everyday for us,” she added. Jack Maguire said, “It doesn’t matter what side of the fence you were on in any conflict it still affects you and in the same way,” he said. “ANZAC Day is part of our tradition part of what we are as Australians. It’s part of our culture, its part of our history and something that should not be misconstrued for any other reason. “It’s got nothing to do with multiculturalism in the sense that it’s not anti-multiculturalism. We’ve got the freedoms to allow people to come to our country. “Without the sacrifice of those past and the sacrifices made by those in the present, our way of life and ‘multiculturalism’, would probably not exist and Australia would not be the relatively safe haven for those who want to make this great country their home and a place to raise their families.” Jack added, “All those people that have had to leave their countries of birth because of war and tragedy but thank Christ that they are able to come to Australia in relative peace.” Vicki also believes Australian history should be passed on to younger generations as they are the ones who will carry on traditions. “Australia needs to remember about the people who fought for us and are still fighting for us to have this awesome way of life,” she said. “We need to keep the memory alive.” Recently Vicki was elected Vice President of the RSL. “It is an absolute honor and I am looking forward to the next 12 months.” Similarly, Leigh Malcolm’s great uncle George James Malcolm fought for the Australia Defence Force and enlisted for the Great War at the age of 25-years-old on August 24, 1915. George joined the 7th Battalion but quickly moved to the 10th Battalion which was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) during the First World War. The battalion was recruited in South Australia and together with the 9th, 10th and 11th Battalions formed the Third Brigade.
ANZAC DAY 2012
9:00 AM
6:00 AM
Anzac day service
Dawn service (richardson place)
Anzac day breakfast
Gunfire breakfast & auction
Immediately following service
(after service at the bowls club)
at the Town Park
10:45 AM
Anzac day March 11:00 AM
Memorial service
Luncheon
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ANDAMOOKA
ROXBY DOWNS
Commemorative service 12:00PM
Vicki Mason pictured with a collection of War Memorabillia tracing activities of several members of her family. Vicki also believes Australian history should be passed on to younger generations as they are who will carry on traditions.
Continued on page 2...
10:00AM (war memorial)
Lest We Forget
(richardson place)
Bbq and a chin wag at the bowls club
‘LEST WE FORGET’ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25
(After memorial)
16/04/2012 2:08:37 PM