70th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice

Representing the Premier of Queensland, Assistant Minister to the Premier for Veterans' Affairs and the Public Sector, Mr Bart Mellish MP; representatives from the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Brisbane; President of the Surfers Paradise RSL Sub-Branch, Mr Len Guest; President of the Korean Society of Gold Coast, Ms Grace Min; Parish Priest for Surfers Paradise Anglican Church, Reverend Jim Raistrick; Veterans, your families and serving military personnel; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I also acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we are gathered, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people with us this morning to mark Korean Veterans’ Day.

Exactly seventy years ago today, an armistice brought an end to the Korean War, a bitter and brutal three-year conflict that ultimately cost millions of lives and left the Korean peninsula divided at the 38^th parallel.

At the height of the conflict, no fewer than 21 United Nations members, including Australia, sent forces to support the South Korea.

Australia’s contribution was never forgotten, and one of the most significant expressions of gratitude was this memorial, which is one of just eight military memorials in Australia considered to be of national significance.

That significance is clear in its design, from the Wall of Remembrance, and the powerful sculptures and bas reliefs, to the inscribed boulders brought here from Kapyong, the site of the most significant battle of the war for Australian forces.

It was an exceptional gift to the State of Queensland and Queensland veterans from the Republic of Korea and the Korean community here in Australia.

I thank them, as well as the State and federal governments, the Gold Coast City Council and the Australian Korean War Veterans, for their original and continuing support of this unique venture.

Coming, as it did, less than five short years after the end of World War Two, the Korean War is often referred to as ‘The Forgotten War’, but this memorial will ensure that the conflict and those who gave their lives will never be forgotten.

At the beginning of World War One in 1914, the English poet, Laurence Binyon, wrote a seven-stanza poem, For the Fallen.

The words of the fourth verse are now familiar to us all as the Ode recited on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, but today, it is Binyon’s third verse that we recall, the words inscribed on this memorial:

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow,

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

Lest we forget.