Federal Rounds
07-November-2011
Written By John Cobb -
Calling on Calare to Recommit to Remembrance Day
At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month Australians will pause to remember the men and women who have died or suffered in all wars, conflicts and peace operations. I encourage residents of Calare to pause from their daily activities at 11am on Friday 11 November to reflect upon, remember and commemorate the service and sacrifice of all Australians who have died in the line of duty since World War I.
There has been concern in recent years about the demise of the observation of a traditional one minute’s silence on Remembrance Day. In response to this, the Coalition’s Recommit to Remembrance Day programme began in 2010, a Coalition-initiated, bi-partisan campaign to reinforce the importance of Remembrance Day. This involves both the Government and Opposition writing to vice chancellors of Australia’s universities, leaders of business and industry and the state premiers calling on them to mark 11am on 11 November as a time for silent reflection at university campuses, places of business, schools, hospitals and other institutions.
Today, while our veterans may be fewer in numbers, the ex-services community continues to wholeheartedly support commemorative services and we must ensure that the legacy continues for years to come. Since Federation, more than 103,000 Australians have been killed in action during war service and the recent tragic death of three Australian soldiers in Afghanistan is a further reminder of why Remembrance Day is so significant.
Observing Remembrance Day is a powerful Australian tradition in its own right. It also links Australia with distant lands and those from the Allied Forces who fought along side us in the defence of freedom. Remembrance Day will be commemorated on Friday 11 November 2011; I call on the constituents of Calare to wear a poppy and pause for a minute’s silence at 11am to reflect upon the service and sacrifice of the fallen.
Calare’s towns clean up at NSW Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Awards
Last weekend I attended the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2011 Tidy Towns Sustainable Communities Awards in Lithgow. Lithgow as the reigning Tidy Towns champion hosted the Annual Awards evening which fosters grass roots efforts to preserve and enhance the natural environment. A number of towns across Calare entered the awards this year and were rewarded for their achievements.
Rydal, Portland, Wallerawang, Lithgow, Orange and Forbes were all successful and received awards in various categories. Forbes cleaned up this year with a win in their population category for the Waste Management and Littler Reduction Award and Forbes North Public School was awarded a Highly Commended in the Schools Environment Award. Forbes was also awarded equal first in the Overall Town Category for population category D.
It is great to see so many towns involved in the Tidy Towns competition this year. The people of Calare take a great deal of pride in their community and it is pleasing that they are being recognised for their efforts. Congratulations to all towns that entered and to the hard working individuals involved in the community projects.