Radio Interview - 6PR Perth Mornings

E&OE TRANSCRIPT 
6PR PERTH RADIO 
MORNINGS WITH GARY ADSHEAD 
MONDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2024

SUBJECTS: Awarding of the Victoria Cross to Private Richard Norden.

GARY ADSHEAD, HOST: Today, of course is Remembrance Day and in about half an hour we will be pausing, of course, to reflect on the significance of Remembrance Day. The end of the Great War, the war to end all wars, didn't quite turn out that way. And a lot more, of course, over there on the east coast they have been commemorating Remembrance Day already and part of it was the awarding of the of a Victoria Cross for a Private Richard Norden posthumously awarding the Victoria Cross. Let's find out more about this. Matt Keogh is the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and joins us on the line. Thanks for your time, Minister.

MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL, MATT KEOGH: Hi Gary. Great to be with you.

ADSHEAD: This was a, so, I mean, VCs do not get handed out easily. So, who was Private Richard Norden?

MINISTER KEOGH: Well, absolutely right, Gary. Victoria Crosses, our most senior level of military honour in Australia. And he been awarded that for most conspicuous acts of gallantry in action in the presence of the enemy. And quite frankly. So, he was fighting in the Vietnam War. He was involved in the Battle of Coral and Balmoral, which was the lengthiest battle that Australians were involved in during the Vietnam War. And there were some 25 Australians that gave their life during the course of those battles. And Richard Norden was quite frankly, crazy brave. His section was out on a patrol about a kilometre out from their base when the enemy came upon them. And out the front of them were the section commander and the scout who were attacked. The rest of them were able to take cover and Richard Norden went out of cover, was wounded, managed to grab the section commander, drag him back into cover, dragged and then carried him back into cover and you'd think, okay, that's great, you've saved one life. He went back out to try and get the scout, found the scout was dead. There was an enemy soldier actually hiding behind the scout that Richard Norden killed and then went back, got more weapons and grenades, cleared the area, went back out, cleared the area and brought back and recovered the body of the scout as well. So, just an amazing act of heroism by Richard Norden, which is finally being recognised in the way that it should be with the Victoria Cross.

ADSHEAD: Was his story well known until what you've just told me now, and the recognition that he's received?

MINISTER KEOGH: Look, it wasn't well known. It does appear in some history books, not many where people have recounted that story, but it wasn't well known over the decades and it wasn't really until a veteran advocate, George Hulse in particular, went to Defence and said, we think this person deserves to be recognised properly. He had been awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal at the time back in 1968, but went to Defence back only in 2020. To say, this person requires a higher level of recognition. And that kicked off a process from there through Defence and then through to the Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal, which then makes recommendations to me and then Government has to work through those recommendations. And because this is the highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, it requires the personal agreement of the Sovereign, of King Charles as well. So, it is a bit of a more lengthy process to get to the awarding of a Victoria Cross and we were able to announce that awarding today.

ADSHEAD: Okay. And can I just check whether or not because, sadly, he survived the Vietnam War, but he died after the war in a car accident, as I understand it. Has his family been brought in to receive this honour posthumously.

MINISTER KEOGH: Yeah, well, as you say, Gary, quite sad. After his service in Vietnam, Richard Norden served in the Australian Capital Police Service here, but he did die back in 1972. His family's been contacted and engaged with and there will be an appropriate investiture ceremony posthumously for the Victoria Cross with the family.

ADSHEAD: Just before I let you go, Remembrance Day, what is it that the significance is to Australians, who at 11 o'clock will pause here to remember?

MINISTER KEOGH: Well, look, Gary, there's a lot for Australians to reflect upon. I mean, obviously at the 11th hour, on the 11th month, brought to a conclusion the Great War, as you said before, the war to end all wars. Unfortunately, in no way did it turn out to be that way. But not only did we lose so many people in the First World War, but in so many wars since 103,000 Australians have given their lives. But it's also a point to reflect on the sacrifices that are made by all of our Defence Force men and women just by serving in our uniform, let alone those that obviously bear the marks of injury, not just physical injury, but mental injury as well. And right now there are some 2,500 Australian Defence Force members that are on peacekeeping operations around the world, putting themselves in danger to maintain the peace in other places. And we should remember that Australia's been on continuous peacekeeping operations for the last 77 years. And this year being the 25th anniversary of INTERFET, where we helped to restore peace, to deliver the independence of Timor-Leste through that operation and the UN operations that followed, it's important to remember all of the various ways in war, in conflict and peacekeeping that our Defence Force members serve our nation.

ADSHEAD: Minister, really appreciate you coming on and telling us about our latest VC winner. Extraordinary story, as you said, and we've only sort of scratched the surface there, so we might have to dig a bit deeper at another point. Thank you very much for that. As we approach Remembrance Day here, of course, in Western Australia. Yes. People are asking me if we will. We will be doing a live broadcast to remind people of the significance of this day at about 10:54. Thanks very much for that, Minister.

MINISTER KEOGH: Thank you very much, Gary.

ADSHEAD: That's Matt Keogh, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.

END
 

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608.