Page 1980 - Week 07 - Thursday, 31 May 1990
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Reg Saunders was a longstanding commissioned officer in the Australian Army. He was the first Aboriginal commissioned. He was a long-time resident of Canberra. I knew Reg. I went through school with one of Reg's children. He lived only a block away from where I lived in Narrabundah, and I knew Reg, his wife and his family well.
Reg was commissioned in World War II. He had a distinguished career, initially as a non-commissioned officer. He spent, I think, about 12 months behind enemy lines in Greece, avoiding capture. He was commissioned in the field, a very rare instance in those days, the first Aboriginal officer commissioned. His military service continued in Korea, where he took part as a captain in the famous battle of Kapyong, one of the greatest battles Australian troops have ever been involved in. He continued his service for several years after that, and then retired from the Army.
Mr Jensen: The battle was on Anzac Day.
MR STEFANIAK: Indeed, as my colleague Mr Jensen says, that battle was on 24 April, continuing to the 25th, Anzac Day. Mr Jensen was a former member of that particularly famous battalion, the Third Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.
Reg Saunders, when he left the Army with the rank of major, continued his distinguished service in Canberra, and was one of the original members of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, to which he gave an immense amount of service during his time in Canberra. He passed away earlier this year. As a person who was privileged to know Reg Saunders and his family, I would like at this stage, belatedly though it might be, to give my condolences and have them recorded in this house. On that note, I certainly commend to you, Mr Speaker, the idea of our expressing condolence for prominent Canberra citizens, which I am delighted to see this Assembly is starting to introduce.
Education Policy
MR JENSEN (4.55): Mr Speaker, I did not propose to speak here this afternoon in this debate but I think it is appropriate that I should do so in view of the fact that Mr Connolly has sought to reopen the education debate. I think he is about to get a boomerang in relation to that. Labor members continue to continually misrepresent the true situation on the education debate.
Mr Berry: I rise on a point of order. I think, if the issue of misrepresentation is to be raised, it should be done by substantive motion.
MR SPEAKER: I believe the word is acceptable.
Mr Berry: I will withdraw that.
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