Pioneer of the
Australian Iron Ore
Industry

ANZAC Eve Address – Sydney Opera House 24^th April 2025

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As I am honoured to speak to you on the eve of ANZAC Day 2025 at the Sydney Opera House, with no war on our shores, I try to imagine what our brave ANZAC’s may have been thinking at this time just prior to landing on the beaches of Gallipoli all those years ago.

As they sailed under the cover of darkness to the entrance of the Dardanelles and sat adrift just off the area later to be named ANZAC Cove, I wonder were any of these brave men aware of the horrors that lay ahead?

Were they even aware that they were about to endure some of the most intense fighting and loss of lives in a battle of World War I?

And did they even know the extent to which their brave and heroic actions would shape our national identity including to this day?

Much like the ANZACs back in 1915, our modern-day soldiers, sailors and airmen have had to endure so much over what has been a protracted period of some 20 plus years of conflict, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance missions in lands far from our country, yet without the support, then and now, that our nation should offer willingly to them. 

Since the 9/11 attacks on the United States back in 2001, our contemporary veterans, like their brothers and sisters-in-arms before them, have endured unimaginable hardships both here and abroad.

This is why I am supportive of organisations like the Australian Remembrance Foundation, the RSL and other veteran organisations and the work they do in helping support our veterans in need.

One instance includes launching Sir Valston Hancock House, a dedicated apartment complex of fully refurbished units back in South Perth, West Australia, which houses too few of our in-need veterans.

Named after my uncle, Air Marshal Sir Valston Eldridge Hancock, KBE, CB, DFC, who during World War II held many roles, with his post war career culminating in appointment as Chief of Air Staff from 1961 to 1965. I hope this dedicated housing project in support of our brave patriotic men and women provides for some inspiration for others to continue doing more for our ANZACs, veterans and their families. 

As we gather here this evening to honour and remember our fallen from all those years ago back in April 1915, I also ask that we reflect on the sacrifices that many of our soldiers, sailors and airmen and their loved ones have given since that day and ask that we each strive to do far more in support.

During this year we observe the end of World War 2 through the 80^th anniversary of the Victory in the Pacific. Back then our nation experienced a series of devastating attacks on our homeland. Our men and women in uniform served and sometimes died in oceans and islands near our shores.

My mother served in the navy, then based in Townsville, Queensland. My father was assigned to the “land army” in Pilbara, which other than my father and his rifle, was left basically undefended.  Here in Australia, some people under attack died in sight of their homes. In 1945, the relief our nation felt was overwhelming – no more war!

Along with like-minded nations, our men and women in uniform and our stoic population bequeathed to Australians, then and as yet unborn, a beautiful peace and we as a nation could turn the wide brown land towards its bountiful destiny.

That sacrifice won us time and with hard work, investment, risk, common sense, reliable electricity, vision, and blessed with natural resources to underpin a high standard of living, Australia has become a remarkable, successful home blessed with opportunities for all Australians. 

We are all especially privileged to be here this evening, as we are free of a war on our shores.  Free of war but not of fundamental concern: So much of our wealth and opportunity, underwritten by past generations of heroes and contributors, stands at risk from the modern aspirations of others, their modern behaviour, from modern realities hitherto remote from our shores, our interests, our treasures, our lives.

It is my belief we urgently need to do more to defend Australians, starting with protecting our ports, airports, sea-lanes and other vital infrastructure, and significantly boosting our smart sea mines, war drones and Israeli style domes accordingly, and boosting our defence manufacture here in Australia, as well as our budget to 5 percent of GDP. 5 percent of GDP like Europe is moving towards.

I have so much more to say on this, at another time.

In closing, today we anticipate tomorrow’s undisputed national moment, when millions of our fellow countrymen and women will gather to mourn and reflect and resolve and yes, later to celebrate the freedom so staunchly protected for us.

We will all intone ‘Lest We Forget’. Let’s think further and imagine those lost legions saying to us all ‘let us not forget how we got here, and given the base we have provided, continue to keep safe what Australians now can enjoy.’

I do hope you have a very special evening.