The following formal submission have been made public
Submitter: Australia Timor Leste Advancement SocietyNew Southern Entrance
I do not agree with the extent of the red development of the War Memorial . I beleive that there should have been far wider discussion before these plans .
For far too long Australia has sheepishly followed the United States into its wars. The Afgan conflict should be a lesson for all .
My late father John (Paddy) Kenenally was soldier in the 2/2nd Commando unit (double reds) and i am led to belive the first ever commado unit in the Australian Army who was sent to Portuguese Tinor in 1941, nearly 80 Years ago on 17th December .
Australia was not invited, we landed (invaded ) the tiny island. In later years Paddy would often say and i quote"All we brought to the Timorese was misery .We(Australia) went into in an effort to protect ourelves , but we actually drew the Japanese in to the area "
Timor is the lost story of the Australian War history , we all talk about Kakoda , but never do talk about our Involvement in Timor 1942 .
The display of the memorial is so untrue , and so poor , The story of the Timorese people who gave their lives and formed great friendships with our men including my father . How those frienships cost lives of nearly 40000 Timorese after we left in 1943.
Lets get the story right , about Timor , and other campaings . Australian soldiers have been great soldiers which is very true , But its not the whole story , Australia in 1943 left the Timorese high and dry and their fate lay at the hands of the Japanese Soldiers .
Sadly we have left Afghanistan in a similar way , those who have protected our diggers in a longer campaingn have been left behind .
The war memorial tells the story of the Aussie during war , This new deveolpment seems much of the same ,
To spend $500 million for displays that dont tell the whole truth , to have all our military hardware on show should not be the focus .
The memorial should be about the people who suffered for our country , and still suffer , and while we honour them and those who assited our men and woman . To tell a story that wars are not good and the suffering that it brings to all our world.
After two world wars , and other campaings Afghanistan being our latest have there been any lessons learnt ,
For far too long Australia has sheepishly followed the United States into its wars. The Afgan conflict should be a lesson for all .
My late father John (Paddy) Kenenally was soldier in the 2/2nd Commando unit (double reds) and i am led to belive the first ever commado unit in the Australian Army who was sent to Portuguese Tinor in 1941, nearly 80 Years ago on 17th December .
Australia was not invited, we landed (invaded ) the tiny island. In later years Paddy would often say and i quote"All we brought to the Timorese was misery .We(Australia) went into in an effort to protect ourelves , but we actually drew the Japanese in to the area "
Timor is the lost story of the Australian War history , we all talk about Kakoda , but never do talk about our Involvement in Timor 1942 .
The display of the memorial is so untrue , and so poor , The story of the Timorese people who gave their lives and formed great friendships with our men including my father . How those frienships cost lives of nearly 40000 Timorese after we left in 1943.
Lets get the story right , about Timor , and other campaings . Australian soldiers have been great soldiers which is very true , But its not the whole story , Australia in 1943 left the Timorese high and dry and their fate lay at the hands of the Japanese Soldiers .
Sadly we have left Afghanistan in a similar way , those who have protected our diggers in a longer campaingn have been left behind .
The war memorial tells the story of the Aussie during war , This new deveolpment seems much of the same ,
To spend $500 million for displays that dont tell the whole truth , to have all our military hardware on show should not be the focus .
The memorial should be about the people who suffered for our country , and still suffer , and while we honour them and those who assited our men and woman . To tell a story that wars are not good and the suffering that it brings to all our world.
After two world wars , and other campaings Afghanistan being our latest have there been any lessons learnt ,