National Legacy week launch
Address given by Mr Matt Anderson PSM, Director, Australian War Memorial for the National Legacy Week launch on 29 August 2022
Dhawura nguna, dhawura Ngunnawal
Yanggu ngalawiri dhunimanyin Ngunnawalwari dhawurawari
Nginggada Dindi Wanggiralijinyin
Every night, at our Last Post Ceremony, we acknowledge those who have served, those still serving, and the families who love and support them.
Legacy is, of course, a promise. A promise most often, but not exclusively, by those who have served, and those still serving, to care for the families of those who have given their lives or their health in the defence of our values and freedoms.
The numbers are compelling: more than 2 million women and men have worn our nation’s uniform over the past 120 years. In the First World War, from a population of fewer than five million, 416,809 men enlisted. 325,000 served overseas. More than 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded. A further 60,000 would fall in the decade after the war. In the Second World War, our population was nearly 7 million; more than 900,000 would enlist.
And, more recently – and the reason we are surrounded today by construction hoardings – is because we’re determined to create the space to tell the stories now of the 100,000 veterans we have created in the past 40 years.
In our Collection, we have an unassuming sandy coloured beret. It is the beret of Major Bruce Walter ‘Doc’ Fox. Bruce’s father died on active service in New Guinea in 1944 leaving Bruce and his brother Boyd Legacy wards. Legacy supported Bruce with a number of scholarships, through a medical degree and eventually specialising in surgery. In 1955 Bruce returned the care and attention he had received from Legacy when he became the first Regimental Medical Officer of the Special Air Service Regiment.
A six week exercise in New Guinea training with 1 Squadron SASR inspired him to insist that SASR medics spend time in a civilian hospital casualty ward before being deployed to Vietnam. Bruce would later serve in Vietnam with the Medical Civil Aid Programs, but to unwind, would spend time with 1 and 2 Squadron SASR. On his return to Australia from his second tour in Vietnam, he retired from surgery.
His contributions to the Australian Defence Force, both as a serving member and to improve medical support services – which survive to this day - would not have been possible without the support Legacy gave him in his earlier years.
We know so much more now about the consequences of service than we did at Legacy’s inception.
The nature of service has changed, but not the consequences.
-We now know that some wounds are invisible, and the support for service families is far more complex and multilayered than it once seemed.
Legacy represents a safe space for families impacted by service. A place where people can relate to challenges faced by service families and the support is tailored, appropriate and sensitively provided.
We are here today in honour of those who will continue to provide that support.
Welcome to the Australian War Memorial and the launch of Legacy Week, 2022.