House debates

Thursday, 30 October 2014

Statements by Members

Centenary of Anzac

1:46 pm

Photo of Ken WyattKen Wyatt (Hasluck, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Tonight marks the start of the Anzac centenary commemorations in Western Australia. Starting in the member for Pearce's electorate, at Blackboy Hill in Greenmount, there will be a community event and overnight bivouac on the Greenmount Primary School oval. The oval is located where the Blackboy Hill Training Camp tents were erected on the eve of the first troop departure. The cadets will be joined by the 11th Battalion Living History Unit in period costumes and period tents.

Tomorrow morning, there will be a departure service at Blackboy Hill, followed by a special train journey from Midland to Fremantle in specially prepared historic-looking carriages pulled by a C class diesel locomotive. The locomotive is similar to those used for many years by Western Australian Government Railways across Western Australia. In Fremantle, there will be a march and a departure commemorative service.

These events recreate the journey that our troops took 100 years ago. It is shaping up to be a very special start to a weekend of commemorations across the state, most notably in Albany. I encourage all Western Australians to get involved in the commemorations, and I look forward to joining them over the weekend.