Anzac Day Dawn Service, Isurava, Papua New Guinea

Good morning.

Today, in cities and towns back home and around the world, Australians are remembering the service and sacrifice of all those who have, and continue to serve our country in wars, conflicts, and peace operations.

Places where Australians have served that have become ingrained in our national consciousness.

From origins of the ANZAC at Gallipoli and the Western Front through to more recent conflicts including East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan to those currently deployed.

Each location is an important chapter in our history.

But perhaps no location could be more poignant than here at Isurava on the Kokoda Track.

Most of us have trekked to this site over the last few days to honour those who served on the Kokoda Track during the Second World War.

We’ve experienced for ourselves the mountainous terrain, the jungle, the stifling heat, the humidity, the rain, the mist, and everything else that makes crossing the Owen Stanley Range so physically and mentally challenging.

And like me, you’ve probably reflected on what it must have been like to serve your country in these conditions - conditions so difficult it’s hard for us to truly fathom.

But of course, the danger wasn’t just about the unforgiving environment – more pressingly, there was a disciplined enemy to contend with.

Skilled in jungle warfare, the Japanese were a fearsome foe.

Between July and November 1942, more than 8,000 Australians served on the Kokoda Track.

They were sent here to fight at a time when the Japanese forces were advancing and the threat to Australia seemed very real.

Our objective was to the thwart the Japanese who were trying to capture Port Moresby and then push them back out of Papua to enable the Allies to advance.

The Australians ultimately prevailed but the cost was high.

Around 625 Australians were killed during the Kokoda Campaign and more than 1,600 were wounded.

Among them was Private Thomas Leslie Burford who was from my home State of Western Australia.

Tom was born in Perth and lied about his age to enlist. Four of his brothers had also answered the call to serve.

Tom was a member of the 2/16th [Second Sixteenth] Infantry Battalion and was already a veteran of the Middle East when he started on the Kokoda Track on 17 August 1942.

Tom first fought the Japanese around Alola before the Australians began their fighting withdrawal.

On 2 September, Tom’s platoon was engaging with the Japanese at Eora Creek, part of a delaying action.

Two Australians were killed in action.

Tom was one of them. He was just 18 years old.

In the wake of his death, his brother Wally paid tribute to him in the West Australian newspaper: 
‘Gallant and brave. We can’t forget his smiling face.’

Those who fought on the Kokoda Track endured many hardships. Diseases such as dysentery, malaria and scrub typhus were rife.

The inhospitable terrain made it a constant struggle to resupply our troops with food, equipment and medical supplies, and many suffered malnutrition and exhaustion.

The Australians were greatly supported by the Papua New Guinean people during the Kokoda Campaign.

Some served as soldiers in the Australian Army or as police, while thousands more carried supplies and helped evacuate the sick and wounded. Others assisted with the construction of airfields, roads, and buildings in base areas and on the supply lines.

We remain forever grateful to our Papua New Guinean friends for the assistance they provided, and today we honour the enduring relationship between our two countries and our shared sacrifices on the Kokoda Track.

Papua New Guinea remains one of Australia’s closest and most important partners.

As part of our ongoing commitment, late last year our two countries entered into a new mutual defence treaty.

Known as the Pukpuk Treaty, it is Australia’s first Alliance in more than 70 years.

We are proud to train together and work side-by-side, with Australian Defence Force and Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel working in each other’s military units, demonstrating our mutual trust and the closeness of our partnership.

Australia and Papua New Guinea have a shared commitment to regional peace and security, and a collective vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.  

Our partnership today builds on the very personal partnerships built on the Kokoda Track some 84 years ago.

We see the strength of that partnership not only in what we do together today, but in the way its origins – our shared history – is honoured and preserved.

We thank the local people for the important ongoing care they provide to the memorials and battle sites where so many Australians lost their lives.

It was not far from here that Private Bruce Kingsbury was killed trying to protect his mates in the Battle of Isurava in late August 1942.

Showing complete disregard for his own safety, Bruce charged an enemy position with his Bren machine gun inflicting heavy casualties and saving the Battalion Headquarters.

While the Australians were ultimately forced to retreat, Bruce’s heroic actions earnt him (posthumously) the only Victoria Cross to awarded on the Kokoda Track.

An excerpt from the citation reads: 
‘His coolness, determination and devotion to duty in the face of great odds was an inspiration to his comrades.’

The beautiful Memorial commemorates Bruce, Tom and all the other Australians who served on the Kokoda Track.

Despite the treacherous conditions, they showed all the qualities associated with the Anzac tradition and which are etched into the Memorial’s granite pillars: Courage, Endurance, Mateship, and Sacrifice.

From the shores of Gallipoli in 1915, to the valleys and deserts of Afghanistan, across the world’s seas and in the sky, our men and women in uniform have always displayed these qualities. They continue doing so on operations today.

On Anzac Day, we remember every Australian, past and present, who has served our nation in times of war and peace, and the more than 103,000 who have died during, or as a result, of their service.

In this special place, we remember all those who fought and died on the Kokoda Track and across Papua New Guinea and the significant contribution they made to ultimate victory in the Second World War.

We also pay tribute to the families of those who served here and acknowledge the enduring grief of the loved ones of those who never came home.

We thank all those who have put their lives on the line for our country and stepped up to safeguard our way of life.

Lest we forget.

ENDS

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