Will Hodgman MP
Leader of the Opposition
Thursday 11 March, 2010

A Hodgman Liberal Government will support public war memorials throughout the State and bringing veterans’ wartime experiences to the next generation.

Tasmania has the highest per capita enlistment in the Armed Services and a very proud history of heroism in war.  Thirteen Tasmanians have received the highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross.

In 2015 it will be 100 years since the ANZACs landed at Gallipoli.

In 2015 it will be 70 years since the end of World War II.

And many Tasmanians served with distinction in Korea, Vietnam and in subsequent conflicts.

As the generations who sacrificed through the Great War pass into memory, and the World War II generation becomes more frail, it is vital that we honour their immeasurable contribution to our nation, and the lifestyle we take for granted in this beautiful State.

A Hodgman Majority Liberal Government commits to several initiatives to support our veterans and their families.

We will provide funding of $400,000 over four years for construction or maintenance of public war memorials around the State.

We will provide $50,000 over four years to develop a program, in consultation with the Veterans Advisory Council to Bring Veterans Into Schools – to develop oral histories and personal visits, so that the young generation of Tasmanians can hear at first hand the experience of our returned servicemen and women.

We will provide a $5,000 bursary to an honours or masters degree student at the University of Tasmania undertaking a thesis into an aspect of Tasmanian war history.  This scholarship will be named after the first Tasmanians to be awarded the Victoria Cross in 1900, Trooper John Bisdee, VC, OBE, and Lieutenant Guy Wylly, VC.

We will also provide another $5,000 bursary to an honours or masters degree student at the University of Tasmania undertaking a thesis into the contribution of Tasmanian service men and women undertaking work on the home front during war time.

This will be named after Colonel Nell Espie, AM, RRC, a former Director of Army Nursing, who was born in Oatlands and was one of the highest ranking and most decorated women to serve in the Australian Defence Force.

We will continue to support the annual awarding of the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize. The prize is a joint initiative of the Tasmanian Government and the RSL Tasmania.

Named for Tasmania’s last surviving World War I veteran Frank MacDonald, MM (who died in 2003), this prestigious award provides an opportunity for Year 9 students from government and non-government secondary schools in Tasmania to attend commemorative services at Gallipoli.

The prize winners also have the opportunity to visit several other European sites that commemorate those Australians who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of our freedom.

A Hodgman Majority Liberal Government will expand the Tasmanian Flag Issue Program to allow the State Protocol Office to make Tasmanian Flags available to any ex-service or not-for-profit community or sports organisation, on application.

We are also committed to supporting the Veterans’ Advisory Council which will have direct access to the Premier and other Ministers on issues of importance to veterans and their families in Tasmania.

We are committed to maintaining the portfolio of Veterans’ Affairs and to annually honouring Tasmania’s veterans’ community at a Parliamentary Reception.