Lest we forget our Middle-East heroes
For proud 14-year-old Ziggy Till, Sydney’s first commemoration of Australia’s Middle East veterans on Thursday was a chance to pay tribute to the father he never knew – Sergeant Brett Till, killed in Afghanistan in 2009.
For proud 14-year-old Ziggy Till, Sydney’s first commemoration of Australia’s Middle East veterans on Thursday was a chance to pay tribute to the father he never knew – Sergeant Brett Till, killed in Afghanistan in 2009.
“Today’s ceremony was an opportunity for me to express my love for my family. To be with others commemorating my dad, his mates and all of the people who have been impacted,” Ziggy said.
“Maybe by being a part of these events, I can help Dad’s friends know that it’s all going to be okay.”
The event, held at the Cenotaph in Sydney’s CBD, marked four years since the last of the ADF troops left Afghanistan, honouring those who served from 2001 to 2021 across conflicts in the Middle East.
The first of its kind in Australia, the event was organised by NSW Returned and Services League. Present were NSW Premier Chris Minns, Opposition Leader Mark Speakman and New England MP Barnaby Joyce.
At the ceremony, Ziggy read a poem – This Ode – which named all the service personnel who died as a result of their service in the Middle East.
“I’m sure memories or moments could be comforting, or even scary when they fade away, but my mum was pregnant with me when Dad died. I don’t get those memories, or those moments,” he said.
“Commemorations and monuments give me a sense of hope that people are starting to realise just how much of an impact people like my Dad have made.”
Australia was involved in the Afghanistan war for almost its entirety. Across those 20 years, troops were stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Arabian Gulf and the UAE.
Around 39,000 Australian troops were deployed, of whom 41 were killed and 261 wounded.
It marks one of the biggest contributions of newly minted RSL NSW president Mick Bainbridge, a 39-year-old former commando who completed five tours in Afghanistan.
“I think the service was commensurate with everything that it should have been for our younger veterans to show them that we’re here and we support them,” Mr Bainbridge said.
“These services have a solemn nature when we commemorate, but certainly after, there’s lots of smiles and handshakes and hugs. I saw a lot of blokes there I served with who I haven’t seen for 10 or 15 years.
“I hope it goes on from now on well into the future.”
Mr Bainbridge advocated for a Sydney monument dedicated to Middle East veterans.
“We are coming to the conclusion of the royal commission into defence and veteran suicide, and I think all these commemorations go towards making sure every veteran feels welcomed and part of that community, and we can reduce those risk factors,” he said.
“With the conclusion of the royal commission, with the allegations of war crimes … these families have been caught in that mix for the last four years without any answers. So I think having a dedicated memorial allows veterans and their families to attend … to pay tribute and quietly reflect on their service.”
In the recent past, RSL NSW has made an effort to “pass the poppy” from its older veterans to the younger demographic emerging from conflicts in the Middle East.
Membership rose by 48 per cent over the past five years as the average age of members fell from 78 to 58.
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