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Australian Peacekeepers Day Commemoration - 14 September 2009
To commemorate the 62nd anniversary of Australia's involvement in Peacekeeping, a ceremony was held at the site where the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial is to be built, on ANZAC Parade in Canberra.
On the 14th of September 1947, Australia deployed the worlds first U.N. Peacekeepers to the Dutch East Indies, now known as Indonesia.
Present was the Hon Alan Griffin MP, Minister of Veterans' Affairs; Ms Louise Markus MP, Shadow Minister of Veterans Affairs; Lt Gen Ken Gillespie AO DSC CSM, Chief of Army representing the CDF; Maj Gen Tim Ford AO, Chair APMP; Comd Shane Connelly APM, representing AFP; Snr Sgt Mark Elm, representing the APPVA; Mr Ron Walker, representing the UNAA; Mr Tom McGrath, representing the UNPAA; Mr Gary Brodie OAM, representing the R&SL Australia, and Mr Christopher Woodthorpe, Director of the UN Information Centre Australia.
Guests of Honour to commemorate Australian Peacekeeping Day at the Peacekeeping Memorial Site.
All of the above laid wreaths on behalf of their organisations, and there were over 80 people in attendance. The day was very well supported by the Royal Military College band, ADF catafalque party and wreath orderlies, AFP mounted police, an AFP flag orderly, and RAN Chaplain Barry Porter.
Catafalque Party and AFP Mounted Police.
Since the start of Australia's participation in Peacekeeping and Peacemaking operations and missions, over 50 ADF and Police personnel have been killed or died whilst on operation.
The keynote speaker for the ceremony was Tim Ford. The MC for the day was APMP Vice Chairman, Matt Burke OAM.
| Address by Tim Ford | Canberra Times Article |
| WIN TV News Item AVI Format - 7 MB |
SBS News Closing Snippet AVI Format - 5.5 MB |
| RealPlayer is required to view the AVI files | |
Members of the APMP Committee.