Page 3544 - Week 11 - Thursday, 24 September 2015
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who work so hard to support people and who are making such significant advances in terms of medical science. I like to think that we will come to see a time when more and more cancers are treatable and more and more people are surviving them. We have certainly seen it in some areas where awareness and treatment have come so far as to mean that most people can survive these days. As the statistics we have all cited today show, we have a long way to go. I trust that we will continue to make progress for the benefit of all in our community.
Discussion concluded.
Adjournment
Motion (by Ms Burch) proposed:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Belconnen RSL sub-branch
MR COE (Ginninderra) (4.20): I rise this afternoon to talk about the Belconnen sub-branch of the RSL. On Tuesday, 25 August I had the pleasure of attending the dedication of a plaque commemorating World War I enlistees from the Belconnen region. The plaque is a joint venture between the RSL and both the ACT and commonwealth governments. The plaque was dedicated on the day by Senator Zed Seselja, with Dr Andrew Leigh MP in attendance. The plaque is placed in the Ellen Clark Park, Weetangera, on the ACT heritage trail. This site is also where the old Weetangera school was located, which 11 of the 18 World War I servicemen from the Belconnen region attended.
One of the stories told on the day was about John Webb, known as Jack, who was born and raised in Weetangera. Branded as a larrikin, Jack was a barman at the Royal Hotel in Queanbeyan and played rugby for the Red and Blacks of Queanbeyan. In January 1916 Jack enlisted and served with the 55th Battalion, 14th Brigade of the 5th Division. Jack was known as a “snowie”, a man who enlisted after joining the men from the Snowy River march from Delegate to Goulburn, which passed through Queanbeyan.
On 2 April 1917 John Webb was killed by machine gun fire after an attack on the village of Doignies in France. In this Anzac centenary year it is important that we are able to remember all those who fought and died for our values and freedoms, particularly those who lived in our region. This is why plaques such as these are so valuable and why they are an important community resource.
It was an honour to attend the plaque dedication, and I thank all those who were involved in the ceremony. In particular, I note the work of the Belconnen sub-branch president, Air Vice Marshal Mac Weller, RAAF (Ret’d); the secretary of the branch, Mr Dennis Wilkes; and the treasurer of the branch, Mr Doug Brown. I know that Mr Bill Hyland also served as the project manager for the plaque dedication. He did a wonderful job, and I congratulated him on the day.
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