PADRE JENNIFER BENNETT

As we admire this beautiful wall in front of us today, I'm reminded of many other significant walls around the world. You may have been fortunate to have seen some of them. The Great Wall of China, The Berlin Wall, Walls of Troy in Turkey, Hadrian's Wall in England, or even the Western Wall of Jerusalem, also known as the Wailing Wall. That particular wall has been built and rebuilt many times over the centuries, with now just a 50m stretch remaining.

What remains formed part of a larger wall surrounding Jerusalem city and the temple, before it was destroyed by the Babylonian empire in 586 BC. One hundred and forty years later it was repaired by ordinary people under the direction of a fellow citizen, Nehemiah, who later was appointed their Governor.

The story of the rebuilding of the wall at this time was significant in that it brought the people together in community, meeting the needs, dreams and hope of this group of people. When it was finished, the people gathered together for the Dedication of the Wall just as we have done today. While it was just a structure made of rocks, it became a symbol of hope in God for prosperity and peace on every side.

Hundreds of years later, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter explaining that we can now find a similar answer of hope with restoration, comfort, and peace provided through Jesus, saying, "For he himself is our peace, who has made us one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing walls of hostility."

While a wall represents strength, protection, and hope for a community, a wall can also be used to divide, or it can be in disrepair bringing pain and anxiety, causing us to live with the brokenness of rubble and ruin. As we reflect on the significance of this Memorial Wall in front of us today, let us be encouraged with the words of a warrior of old from Psalm 18, where we can turn to rebuild, and find restoration, hope and comfort:

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

LT COL ROSS THOMAS

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and distinguished guests.

This morning I would like to recognise the attendance of:

• Group Captain Iain Carty - Senior Australian Defence Officer RAAF Base Amberley
• Lt Ian Whitehead - HMAS Moreton
• Graham Perett MP - Federal Member for Moreton
• Mark Bailey MP - State Member for Miller
• Nicole Johnson - Councillor for Tennyson Ward
• Steve Griffiths - Councillor for Moorooka Ward
• Wendy Taylor - Deputy President - RSL QLD

I would like to begin today by acknowledging the Yuggera and Turrbal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today.

On behalf of Commander 7th Combat Brigade, Brigadier Jason Blain, DSC, CSC, thankyou for the opportunity and honour to participate in this dedication service - such a significant occasion for those present who have toiled, lobbied and fundraised to see this come to fruition, but also for the families and loved-ones of those who have served our nation.

Military historian Charles Bean bore witness to much of World War One, from the Gallipoli landing to the Armistice. In July and August 1916 at Pozieres, Bean saw 23,000 Australian casualties in six weeks - 6,800 dead; five Victoria Crosses.

Almost killed twice on 31 July returning from the front, a mortally wounded Digger asked of him,

"Will they remember me in Australia?"

At the end of the War, Bean wrote:

"What these men did, nothing can alter now. The good and the bad. The greatness and the smallness of their story rises."

It always rises. Above the mists of time as a monument to great hearted men and women. And for the nation - a possession forever.

We owe it to those who gave their lives, the families who mourned them, our generation and our nation's future - to remember extraordinary service and sacrifice made in our name, during the First World War and through the century since.

And remember them we did. In Bean’s case, he resolved to build the Australian War Memorial, the finest museum and memorial to the Australian Imperial Force.

In towns and shires across the country, smaller but no less significant memorials were erected in remembrance of their selfless deeds.

The cenotaph here in Yeronga Memorial Park was erected in memory of the some 600 locals that enlisted for overseas service in World War 1, 96 making the ultimate sacrifice.

Today’s dedication of the "All Conflicts" Memorial Wall marks the 100th anniversary of the Cenotaph.

This new memorial stands as a testament to those who have served and those who have been killed on operations, both warlike and peacekeeping, since the First World War.

World War 2

We were, when the Second World War had been declared in September 1939, a nation of just seven million people - the nation still bearing the scars and memories of the First. But through every challenge and the darkest of days, Australians still showed resilience, perseverance and mateship time and again - rolling up our sleeves, helping our allies and neighbours the best we can.

The Second World War was no mere extension of the First. Our vital interests were at stake. The Japanese landed on the Malaya Peninsula on the same day they attacked the US Fleet at Pearl Harbour.

Over the six years of war, we would send half a million Australians overseas - including PTE Richard Wills.

A Brisbane lad like myself, a student at Brisbane Boys School and later a reporter for the Courier Mail, PTE Mills enlisted as a Rifleman and served with the 2nd/9th Battalion in Papua New Guinea.

Like many others, he suffered terribly under the tough conditions of jungle warfare and took ill, dying far from his family and loved-ones, at the infamous Shaggy Ridge.

Australia would emerge from the war victorious, inconsolably mourning our 40,000 dead, living with the 100,000 physically wounded and an indeterminate number, as is the case today, of those bearing psychological traumas.

Korea

Post-war, Australia would make a sizeable contribution to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan - largely a security task. But the lull in battle would be short-lived when, in 1950 the Cold War turned hot. We would once again ‘answer the call’, with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and 77 Squadron of the RAAF, supported by Her Majesty’s Australian Ships Shoalhaven and Bataan, redirected from their task in Japan to form the basis of Australia’s commitment in Korea under the newly formed United Nations.

On the back of WW2, the Australian troops deployed in Korea were arguably the most experienced expeditionary force Australia has ever put in the field. Their combat experience, confidence and courage coming to the fore in battle - Kapyong, Maryang San and Samichon to name a few.

Malayan Emergency

Simultaneously, Australians were deployed elsewhere, with the 38th and 1st Squadrons of the RAAF deployed in the Malayan Emergency, a counter-insurgency battle against the rise of communism.

The air force conducted cargo, paratroop and bombing missions, until in 1955, when they were joined by our first ground forces, the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.

By the end of hostilities in 1963, 39 Australians had been killed and a further 27 wounded.

Vietnam

August 1962 saw the beginning of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, with the arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. Despite the controversy and divided public opinion on Australia's involvement, some 60,000 servicemen and women served their nation, proudly emulating the character and courage of those who had worn the uniform before them.

One of these was Leading Air Crewman Noel Shipp. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in 1963 here in Brisbane, transferring to the aircrew category in 1968 and posting to the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam unit as an air gunner where he was integrated with the United States Army’s 135th Assault Helicopter Company.

Their nickname was EMU, an acronym of Experimental Military Unit - apt, given the number of Australians in the company. Their motto was, "Get the bloody job done."

On 31 May 1969, elements of the 135th came under intense fire, with three aircraft damaged and one pilot badly injured.

Noel was in another Iroquois, which proceeded to the pick-up zone and began "rocket runs on the enemy position" providing covering fire for the extraction. With "complete disregard for his own safety", Noel continued to fire on the enemy, exposing himself to intense enemy fire.

Eventually, Noel's Iroquois was hit. The aircraft crashed and exploded into the jungle below, with Noel seen firing on the enemy until the “moment of impact". All four crew were killed, with Noel’s name listed among the 520 others who made the ultimate sacrifice in that conflict.

Peacekeeping

1962 also saw Australia’s first commitment of forces to the Indonesia Confrontation, where 23 Australians were killed in what was largely a covert jungle war driven by Indonesia’s displeasure at the creation of Malaysia. Because of the sensitivity of the cross-border operations against Indonesia, Confrontation received very little coverage in the Australian press.

Australia has also contributed to a broad range of peacekeeping operations over the century. These vary in size, mission and duration, the more recent being Cambodia in 1991-93, Operation Solace in Somalia in 1992-95, Bougainville in 1994 and 1997-2003, INTERFET in Timor Leste from 1999 which was the largest deployment of Australian Troops since the Second World War, and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands from 2000.

MEAO

Contributions to warlike operations have also spanned this recent period, primarily in the Middle East in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Again, in these conflicts, Australian servicemen and women have served with distinction alongside their allied counterparts in combat, reconstruction and mentoring roles.

While operations in Iraq continue today, the mission in Afghanistan has concluded with some 39,000 ADF, Defence Civilians and Australian Federal Police having deployed across the 20 year mission - sadly, 41 soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan, and - like those who have gone before, many more were wounded - physically and mentally.

Domestic

Most recently, the ADF has been prominent in the media and public-eye, supporting the community through Domestic Operations. Our members continue to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in, regardless of the task. Our servicemen and women are proud and extremely grateful to give back to the community, to assist those in need - and like the ANZACs - to help a mate.

Conclusion

The original ANZACs established a reputation. They fought valiantly, endured, suffered and died for ‘their’ something - their family, their mates, their country and way of life. And those who have come after them, fought in other wars in other far-away places, or supported a community in need here at home, have all done so for the same reasons.

The men and women who have created this history, need to have their story told and their deeds remembered.

This, the "All Conflicts" Memorial Wall, is a symbol of their journey; the journey of PTE Mills and Leading Air Crewman Shipp and the two million other Australian men and women who wear and have worn our uniform, their selfless commitment, and the impact that its had upon them and their families.

Their example offers inspiration. They provide a standard to which we can all aspire.

Thank you

PADRE JENNIFER BENNETT

Heavenly Father. Just as the people gathered for a dedication of the wall of Jerusalem many centuries ago, today we have also gathered to celebrate with gladness and thanksgiving for the dedication of our Memorial Wall.

We dedicate this wall to the sons and daughters of our community that are represented by each of these plaques, who served their country courageously in time of war, with many of those making an ultimate sacrifice so that we may have peace and hope today. We honour and gratefully remember those who have laid down their lives for our country for their courage and bravery. May this memorial be a tribute to the men and women who have fought for our freedom, and let it be a symbol of peace and hope.

Thank you heavenly father. that when we face times of division and brokenness, you have provided a way for us to find strength, comfort, peace, and restoration through Jesus, our Saviour. May we find refuge in you, our rock, our shield, fortress and deliverer.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. (1 Thessalonians 3)

Amen.