July 6, 2015
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says he is ‘honoured and humbled’ to be chosen this week, to represent the Federal Parliament at the 30,000th Last Post ceremony under the Menin Gate in Leper, Belgium.
Mr Chester, who is the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, will represent the Federal Government at the ceremony which honours the memory of Australian and other allied forces who died in the region during World War 1.
The monument was built to particularly honour the soldiers whose bodies were never found.
“I will travel to Belgium this week with the Director of the Australian War Memorial Brendan Nelson and attend the 30,000th Last Post ceremony, along with Australian RSL President Ken Doolan,” Mr Chester said.
“More than 36,000 Australian soldiers were killed or wounded on the battlefield of the Ypres Salient and over 6000 of the fallen have no known grave and are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing.
“Every evening, buglers of the local volunteer fire brigade sound the Last Post, a tradition which began in 1928 and will occur for the 30,000th time on July 9.
“Many Gippslanders made the ultimate sacrifice on European battlefields in World War 1 and I will be remembering them, and their families on this historic occasion.
“I’m greatly honoured to be asked by the Prime Minister and Minister for Veterans Affairs to attend this commemorative event and pay my respects to all Australian servicemen and women.”
