Remembrance Day NT services to be held at cenotaphs
Alice Springs marked its first Remembrance Day in living memory without Rat of Tobruk and local legend Sydney Kinsman, as the Territory paused to pay its respects.
Palmerston and Beyond
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Alice Springs residents have marked their first Remembrance Day in living memory without local legend and Rat of Tobruk, Sydney Kinsman, who passed away in June aged 100.
Chief Minister Natasha Fyles and other dignitaries joined ex-servicemen and women in laying wreaths at the cenotaph on Anzac Hill on Friday to commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In Darwin, leaders paid their respects at the cenotaph with school students and the public laying wreaths in remembrance.
Alice Springs RSL sub-branch vice president Chuck Ritenour said after more than 100 years since the guns fell silent on the Western Front, it remained as important as ever to continue to recognise all those who served.
“Today is a reminder for Australia as a nation to pay all of our veterans, servicemen and women and their families the respect they deserve for their service and sacrifice they gave to our nation,” he said.
“Many veterans suffered and continue to suffer because of their service, as such it is imperative that communities support their local veterans and their families.”
Mr Ritenour said his organisation remained dedicated to serving the ongoing welfare of the 1100 veterans in the Lingiari electorate, 160 of whom were based in Alice Springs.
“I encourage everyone to learn more about the Australian involvement in not only the great war, but also the more recent conflicts and peacekeeping operations and to understand the experience of men and women who have served our country,” he said.
In his commemorative address, Warrant Officer Scott Allen said the day was an opportunity to reflect on Australia’s “resilience and perseverance” through the country’s “darkest of days”.
“We are a nation built on the foundation of mateship, rolling up our sleeves, helping our neighbours and doing it with a smile the best we can,” he said.
“Our country has fought and stood for something every time our freedoms and our way of life were threatened.
“In the darkest days, there is always a glimmer of light found in the mateship, comradeship and loyalty that is us, at it’s very core, the essence of all it means to be Australian.”
Mr Allen said it was a time to “remember and honour those heroes who have shaped the very fabric of the nation that we hold so dear today”, including local legend Mr Kinsman.
“There are heroic stories of Australian troops doing extraordinary things during battles,” he said.
“Our own Sydney George Kinsman, Rat of Tobruk, fought at Tobruk and Al Alamein, was a POW, escaped, climbed over The Alps into Switzerland and then home.”
Former Royal Australian Air Force member Kevin Rockemer was among the veterans to make the climb to the summit of Anzac Hill to pay his respects to fallen comrades in conflicts at home and abroad.
“It’s basically comradeship and the fact that we served and we’ll probably, in one way or another, continue to serve, particularly through the RSL where we’re trying to ensure welfare and continuous encouragement of our fellow servicemen,” he said.
“No matter where we are, there’s an involvement and the need to recognise service.”
In Darwin, this Remembrance Day has been a special one for Afghanistan veteran Matt Hull.
The Darwin RSL sub branch vice president was excited to be able to introduce his daughter to the importance of acknowledging the ultimate sacrifice of military personnel.
“It’s my first Remembrance Day that I get to educate my daughter and my family about the importance,” he said.
“It’s a moment where I get to sit back with my mates and their veteran community who come together and celebrate our shared experiences — celebrate brothers and sisters that we’ve lost.”
Thousands of people acoss the Territory paused at 11am to remember those who have fought and lost their lives in all of the conflicts Australia has been involved in.
Services were held on Friday at the cenotaphs in Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs and Gove, at Memorial Park in Palmerston and at the Tennant Creek RSL Offices.
Lieutenant Craig Macaulay said a family history of service inspired him to join the Australian Army.
“Growing up during the time in Afghanistan as well as learning about my family history gave me a strong desire to serve to protect Australia and to defend its interest,” he said.
He took a moment of silence at 11am.
“I will be taking my moment to reflect not only on my service but on those who have gone before us and made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
Legacy NT president Scott Perkins said for 99 years his organisation had been able to provide support to families whose loved ones have given their lives during service.
“Legacy has been extremely proud of the help its given to young families and particularly the children of deceased veterans of whom there have been many thousands, helped through school,” he said.
“Therefore this is also an occasion for remembering those families and the ongoing support they receive from the ex-service community if they have been disadvantaged by war.”
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