Maitland, Gloucester and MidCoast earmarked for war memorial funding in wake of floods
The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW.
Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast.
The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund.
Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens.
Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture".
"This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said.
The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage.
The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW.
Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast.
The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund.
Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens.
Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture".
"This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said.
The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage.
The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW.
Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast.
The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund.
Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens.
Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture".
"This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said.
The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage.
The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW.
Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast.
The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund.
Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens.
Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture".
"This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said.
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Lessons 'not learnt' 80 years on from World War II
Memories of those who have served and those who fell before the end of the Second World War have been carried forward, 80 years on. Services across the nation marked the Victory in the Pacific anniversary on Friday, with commemorations held at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, the State War Memorial in Perth and the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Braving frosty conditions, Maureen Bell, from Brighton in Melbourne's southeast, commemorated her father Bert Jones' memory, proudly wearing his war medals at the Shrine. She remembered her dad as one of many who never talked seriously about the war, instead telling funny stories of his service to ease the memory of terrible times. "He said he was called Screamer because they would play AFL football in New Guinea and he'd jump up and take a mark and everybody would say that was a screamer of a mark," she reminisced. "But I found out decades later that dad was called Screamer because he was really loud." Ms Bell said she was proud of her dad's legacy, but lamented the human race hasn't learnt from past mistakes. "It's important to honour those that have gone before us and made incredible sacrifices, endured horrendous torture and sadness, but we don't seem to learn from it," she told AAP. "We keep doing it unfortunately." Phil Ward attended the Sydney service to honour his father's legacy in the 2/20th battalion in Singapore, having survived internment and the Burma railway. The commemorations represented the "enduring gratitude" to those who defend our freedoms, Mr Ward said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marked VP Day, when Japan accepted the Allied forces' terms of surrender sparking the end of World War II, by paying tribute to soldiers' courage and the stories of endless longing for the home many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." Despite the jubilation that came from the victory, there was also sorrow for those who perished. RSL Victoria President Mark Schroffel said there were countless unsung heroes who never returned home to tell their stories or had the chance to have a family. "That's particularly sad for them, and hopefully what we're doing today will help preserve their memory," he said. "The sacrifice and the loss was a terrible time for the world and we need to remember that even though a victory was declared, nobody really wins." Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Memories of those who have served and those who fell before the end of the Second World War have been carried forward, 80 years on. Services across the nation marked the Victory in the Pacific anniversary on Friday, with commemorations held at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, the State War Memorial in Perth and the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Braving frosty conditions, Maureen Bell, from Brighton in Melbourne's southeast, commemorated her father Bert Jones' memory, proudly wearing his war medals at the Shrine. She remembered her dad as one of many who never talked seriously about the war, instead telling funny stories of his service to ease the memory of terrible times. "He said he was called Screamer because they would play AFL football in New Guinea and he'd jump up and take a mark and everybody would say that was a screamer of a mark," she reminisced. "But I found out decades later that dad was called Screamer because he was really loud." Ms Bell said she was proud of her dad's legacy, but lamented the human race hasn't learnt from past mistakes. "It's important to honour those that have gone before us and made incredible sacrifices, endured horrendous torture and sadness, but we don't seem to learn from it," she told AAP. "We keep doing it unfortunately." Phil Ward attended the Sydney service to honour his father's legacy in the 2/20th battalion in Singapore, having survived internment and the Burma railway. The commemorations represented the "enduring gratitude" to those who defend our freedoms, Mr Ward said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marked VP Day, when Japan accepted the Allied forces' terms of surrender sparking the end of World War II, by paying tribute to soldiers' courage and the stories of endless longing for the home many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." Despite the jubilation that came from the victory, there was also sorrow for those who perished. RSL Victoria President Mark Schroffel said there were countless unsung heroes who never returned home to tell their stories or had the chance to have a family. "That's particularly sad for them, and hopefully what we're doing today will help preserve their memory," he said. "The sacrifice and the loss was a terrible time for the world and we need to remember that even though a victory was declared, nobody really wins." Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Memories of those who have served and those who fell before the end of the Second World War have been carried forward, 80 years on. Services across the nation marked the Victory in the Pacific anniversary on Friday, with commemorations held at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, the State War Memorial in Perth and the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Braving frosty conditions, Maureen Bell, from Brighton in Melbourne's southeast, commemorated her father Bert Jones' memory, proudly wearing his war medals at the Shrine. She remembered her dad as one of many who never talked seriously about the war, instead telling funny stories of his service to ease the memory of terrible times. "He said he was called Screamer because they would play AFL football in New Guinea and he'd jump up and take a mark and everybody would say that was a screamer of a mark," she reminisced. "But I found out decades later that dad was called Screamer because he was really loud." Ms Bell said she was proud of her dad's legacy, but lamented the human race hasn't learnt from past mistakes. "It's important to honour those that have gone before us and made incredible sacrifices, endured horrendous torture and sadness, but we don't seem to learn from it," she told AAP. "We keep doing it unfortunately." Phil Ward attended the Sydney service to honour his father's legacy in the 2/20th battalion in Singapore, having survived internment and the Burma railway. The commemorations represented the "enduring gratitude" to those who defend our freedoms, Mr Ward said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marked VP Day, when Japan accepted the Allied forces' terms of surrender sparking the end of World War II, by paying tribute to soldiers' courage and the stories of endless longing for the home many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." Despite the jubilation that came from the victory, there was also sorrow for those who perished. RSL Victoria President Mark Schroffel said there were countless unsung heroes who never returned home to tell their stories or had the chance to have a family. "That's particularly sad for them, and hopefully what we're doing today will help preserve their memory," he said. "The sacrifice and the loss was a terrible time for the world and we need to remember that even though a victory was declared, nobody really wins." Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Memories of those who have served and those who fell before the end of the Second World War have been carried forward, 80 years on. Services across the nation marked the Victory in the Pacific anniversary on Friday, with commemorations held at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, the State War Memorial in Perth and the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Braving frosty conditions, Maureen Bell, from Brighton in Melbourne's southeast, commemorated her father Bert Jones' memory, proudly wearing his war medals at the Shrine. She remembered her dad as one of many who never talked seriously about the war, instead telling funny stories of his service to ease the memory of terrible times. "He said he was called Screamer because they would play AFL football in New Guinea and he'd jump up and take a mark and everybody would say that was a screamer of a mark," she reminisced. "But I found out decades later that dad was called Screamer because he was really loud." Ms Bell said she was proud of her dad's legacy, but lamented the human race hasn't learnt from past mistakes. "It's important to honour those that have gone before us and made incredible sacrifices, endured horrendous torture and sadness, but we don't seem to learn from it," she told AAP. "We keep doing it unfortunately." Phil Ward attended the Sydney service to honour his father's legacy in the 2/20th battalion in Singapore, having survived internment and the Burma railway. The commemorations represented the "enduring gratitude" to those who defend our freedoms, Mr Ward said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marked VP Day, when Japan accepted the Allied forces' terms of surrender sparking the end of World War II, by paying tribute to soldiers' courage and the stories of endless longing for the home many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." Despite the jubilation that came from the victory, there was also sorrow for those who perished. RSL Victoria President Mark Schroffel said there were countless unsung heroes who never returned home to tell their stories or had the chance to have a family. "That's particularly sad for them, and hopefully what we're doing today will help preserve their memory," he said. "The sacrifice and the loss was a terrible time for the world and we need to remember that even though a victory was declared, nobody really wins." Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- The Advertiser
World War II: 80 years since 'nightmares made real'
Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to war veterans as he joined thousands across the nation to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The prime minister's address at the Sydney Cenotaph on Friday touched on the the words his wartime predecessor Ben Chifley had uttered to the nation on August 15, 1945: "fellow citizens, the war is over". "It was a sentence of perfect simplicity, but infinite power," Mr Albanese said. On the 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, when Japan accepted the terms of surrender to the Allied forces sparking the end of World War II, Mr Albanese paid tribute to all the stories of courage, resilience, exhaustion, fear and elation and the endless longing for the home so many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but some 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." One of those stories, of country boy Frederick Balfe Emanuel, who flew a B-24 bomber over Borneo in July 1945 but did not live long enough to witness the end of the war, was honoured on Friday. At age 22, Emanuel enlisted in the Australian army, serving in New Guinea before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, where he participated in dangerous reconnaissance missions. "His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace yet never returned home," memorial director Matt Anderson said. Commemorative services were held across the nation to mark Victory in the Pacific Day, including at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and a fly-past over the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. RSL national president Greg Melick said the occasion was an important time to recognise the sacrifices of so many fallen soldiers. "The end of the war brought heartache for many families when, after years of waiting for news of the missing, they were told that their loved ones were not coming home," Mr Melick said. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to war veterans as he joined thousands across the nation to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The prime minister's address at the Sydney Cenotaph on Friday touched on the the words his wartime predecessor Ben Chifley had uttered to the nation on August 15, 1945: "fellow citizens, the war is over". "It was a sentence of perfect simplicity, but infinite power," Mr Albanese said. On the 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, when Japan accepted the terms of surrender to the Allied forces sparking the end of World War II, Mr Albanese paid tribute to all the stories of courage, resilience, exhaustion, fear and elation and the endless longing for the home so many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but some 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." One of those stories, of country boy Frederick Balfe Emanuel, who flew a B-24 bomber over Borneo in July 1945 but did not live long enough to witness the end of the war, was honoured on Friday. At age 22, Emanuel enlisted in the Australian army, serving in New Guinea before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, where he participated in dangerous reconnaissance missions. "His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace yet never returned home," memorial director Matt Anderson said. Commemorative services were held across the nation to mark Victory in the Pacific Day, including at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and a fly-past over the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. RSL national president Greg Melick said the occasion was an important time to recognise the sacrifices of so many fallen soldiers. "The end of the war brought heartache for many families when, after years of waiting for news of the missing, they were told that their loved ones were not coming home," Mr Melick said. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to war veterans as he joined thousands across the nation to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The prime minister's address at the Sydney Cenotaph on Friday touched on the the words his wartime predecessor Ben Chifley had uttered to the nation on August 15, 1945: "fellow citizens, the war is over". "It was a sentence of perfect simplicity, but infinite power," Mr Albanese said. On the 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, when Japan accepted the terms of surrender to the Allied forces sparking the end of World War II, Mr Albanese paid tribute to all the stories of courage, resilience, exhaustion, fear and elation and the endless longing for the home so many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but some 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." One of those stories, of country boy Frederick Balfe Emanuel, who flew a B-24 bomber over Borneo in July 1945 but did not live long enough to witness the end of the war, was honoured on Friday. At age 22, Emanuel enlisted in the Australian army, serving in New Guinea before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, where he participated in dangerous reconnaissance missions. "His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace yet never returned home," memorial director Matt Anderson said. Commemorative services were held across the nation to mark Victory in the Pacific Day, including at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and a fly-past over the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. RSL national president Greg Melick said the occasion was an important time to recognise the sacrifices of so many fallen soldiers. "The end of the war brought heartache for many families when, after years of waiting for news of the missing, they were told that their loved ones were not coming home," Mr Melick said. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046 Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to war veterans as he joined thousands across the nation to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War. The prime minister's address at the Sydney Cenotaph on Friday touched on the the words his wartime predecessor Ben Chifley had uttered to the nation on August 15, 1945: "fellow citizens, the war is over". "It was a sentence of perfect simplicity, but infinite power," Mr Albanese said. On the 80th Victory in the Pacific Day, when Japan accepted the terms of surrender to the Allied forces sparking the end of World War II, Mr Albanese paid tribute to all the stories of courage, resilience, exhaustion, fear and elation and the endless longing for the home so many never saw again. Almost one million Australians served in uniform during the war, but some 40,000 never got to see its conclusion. About 66,000 were wounded, while many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. "Every life and dream and future swallowed in that vortex of madness and cruelty, from every battlefield and every burning city, from the prisoner of war camps to the unprecedented horror of the concentration camps," Mr Albanese said. "These were nightmares made real - not by monsters but by human beings in a grotesque perversion of humanity." One of those stories, of country boy Frederick Balfe Emanuel, who flew a B-24 bomber over Borneo in July 1945 but did not live long enough to witness the end of the war, was honoured on Friday. At age 22, Emanuel enlisted in the Australian army, serving in New Guinea before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, where he participated in dangerous reconnaissance missions. "His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace yet never returned home," memorial director Matt Anderson said. Commemorative services were held across the nation to mark Victory in the Pacific Day, including at the Sydney Cenotaph, the National War Memorial in Canberra, the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and a fly-past over the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Federal Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the day marked the end of a great darkness - brought on by the most devastating global conflict in human history. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. RSL national president Greg Melick said the occasion was an important time to recognise the sacrifices of so many fallen soldiers. "The end of the war brought heartache for many families when, after years of waiting for news of the missing, they were told that their loved ones were not coming home," Mr Melick said. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 046
7NEWS
5 days ago
- 7NEWS
Fallen heroes honoured as Australia marks 80 years since end of World War II
A country boy who flew a B-24 bomber over Borneo in July 1945 did not live long enough to witness the end of World War II. Warrant Officer Class 2 Frederick Balfe Emanuel died mere weeks before Victory in the Pacific Day on August 15, when Japan announced its unconditional surrender to the Allies. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Fallen heroes remembered 80 years after end of WWII. At age 22, Emanuel enlisted in the Australian army serving in Papua New Guinea before joining the Far Eastern Liaison Office, where he took part in dangerous reconnaissance missions. He is being honoured at the Australian War Memorial on Friday, as the nation marks the 80th anniversary of the bloody war that reached its shores coming to a fateful end. 'His story is a heartbreaking reminder of how close some came to seeing peace yet never returned home,' memorial director Matt Anderson said. 'This is honouring a country boy who became a Sydneysider yet did not survive to finish his story.' Other commemorations include a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft conducting a flypast over the National War Memorial in Adelaide. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific during World War II, fighting against Japan from 1941 to 1945. Initially, Australian forces engaged in campaigns in Malaya and Singapore. After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the focus shifted to defending the Australian mainland and supporting the US-led counteroffensive in the Pacific. RSL national president Greg Melick said the occasion was an important time for Australia to recognise the sacrifices of so many fallen soldiers. 'For Australians, that day meant that the Second World War was finally over,' he said. 'As the number of WWII veterans dwindle, it is vital that we commemorate their collective contribution to our liberty and way of life.' He said nearly one million Australians, about one in seven of the population at the time, served in uniform during the Second World War. Almost 40,000 died and 66,000 were wounded. Many thousands more became prisoners of war, with 8000 dying in captivity. 'The end of the war brought heartache for many families when, after years of waiting for news of the missing, they were told that their loved ones were not coming home,' Mr Melick said.
