[BITList] Fwd: Media release: VA079 MERCHANT MARINERS COMMEMORATED ON NATIONAL DAY [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[John Feltham]

Begin forwarded message:

From: DVA Mailing List <info at dvalists.aaa.net.au>
Date: 3 September 2009 9:04:55 AM AEST
To: <minister-media at dva.aaa.net.au>
Subject: Media release: VA079 MERCHANT MARINERS COMMEMORATED ON  
NATIONAL DAY [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]
Reply-To: dvamedia at dva.gov.au

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List


VA079 
                                                                                                            Thursday 
, 3 September 2009

MERCHANT MARINERS COMMEMORATED ON NATIONAL DAY

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, encouraged  
Australians to mark the important contribution of Australia’s merchant  
mariners to our wartime efforts on Merchant Navy Day today.

“The Merchant Navy has been an important part of Australia’s war  
efforts – helping to transport troops, supplies and other important  
cargoes across dangerous seas and oceans,” Mr Griffin said.

Thousands of Australian merchant mariners served on Australian,  
Commonwealth and Allied ships during both World Wars.

Merchant ships were often in grave danger from enemy submarines,  
hostile aircraft, mines and unpredictable weather conditions.  They  
were easy targets,  unarmed or lightly armed and carrying heavy  
cargoes making them slower and less manoeuvrable than navy ships.

“On Merchant Navy Day we commemorate the service and sacrifice of all  
Australian merchant mariners.  Their contribution to our war efforts  
was invaluable and we are forever grateful for their bravery in  
getting the job done in dangerous and difficult conditions,” Mr  
Griffin said.

Australian and Commonwealth memorials commemorate 435 Australian  
merchant mariners known to have been lost in both World Wars.  All  
merchant mariners who lost their lives are honoured at the Australian  
War Memorial in Canberra.  Those with no known grave are honoured at  
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorials to the Missing in Sydney,  
the Northern Territory, Port Moresby, Hong Kong as well as London’s  
Tower Hill.

In consultation with merchant mariners, the first Wednesday of  
September was chosen for Merchant Navy Day, marking the loss of the  
first Allied merchant ship in 1939.


Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109

The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be  
contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.  To  
receive the Minister’s media releases automatically by email subscribe  
at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
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ooroo

Bad typists of the word, untie.




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