[FONT="]Minister for Veterans' Affairs Announcement.[/FONT][FONT="] [FONT="]VA057 26 June 2008[/FONT][/FONT][FONT="] [FONT="]BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA DAY PROCLAIMED[/FONT][/FONT] [FONT="]The Battle for Australia will now be marked on the first Wednesday in September each year, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, announced today.[/FONT] [FONT="]Mr Griffin said the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery AC CVO MC (Retd), had signed the proclamation for the Battle for Australia Day.[/FONT] [FONT="]The proclamation delivers on a Labor Party election promise to declare a day of national observance for the Battle for Australia.[/FONT] [FONT="]"Battle for Australia Day will commemorate the service and sacrifice of all those who served in defence of Australia in 1942 and 1943 when we faced the gravest threats to our nation," Mr Griffin said.[/FONT] [FONT="]"This national day of observance will provide tangible recognition and greater community awareness of the contribution to Australia's freedom and democracy of those who fought in the Battle for Australia. [/FONT] [FONT="]"There were direct attacks on the Australian mainland, particularly in Darwin, and battles in the Coral Sea and Papua and New Guinea, including Milne Bay and the Kokoda Track."[/FONT] [FONT="]Prime Minister John Curtin announced the Battle for Australia when Singapore fell on 15 February 1942. However, the first Wednesday in September has been chosen by the veteran community as it represents the first defeat of Japanese forces on land in the Battle of Milne Bay.[/FONT] [FONT="]"The Day will also be an opportunity to remember the sacrifices of those on the home front, who lived in a time when the entire Australian economy was directed towards the war effort," Mr Griffin said.[/FONT] [FONT="]Mr Griffin said Battle for Australia Day would not be a public holiday.[/FONT] [FONT="]"This proclamation will not detract from the importance of Australia's two most significant days of commemoration, Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, on which we remember all Australians who served and died in wars, conflicts and peace operations," Mr Griffin said.[/FONT] [FONT="]Details of commemorative ceremonies to be held to mark Battle for Australia Day will be published on the Department of Veterans' Affairs website www.dva.gov.au when events are confirmed.[/FONT] [FONT="]Media inquiries: Laura Ryan 0437 863 109[/FONT]
Monday, 5 September 2011 VA071 REMEMBERING WHEN WAR CAME TO AUSTRALIAN SHORES The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, urged all Australians to honour the contribution of those who helped to defend our shores when the Japanese threat was at its greatest, on Battle for Australia Day on 7 September. Mr Snowdon said Battle for Australia Day honours the servicemen and women, and civilians, who served in Australia’s defence during the Second World War. “Battle for Australia Day recognises all those who served on the home front in Australia, and who fought on land, air and sea in battles in the Coral Sea and in Papua New Guinea, including Milne Bay and the Kokoda Track during 1942 and 1943,” he said. “This was the most dangerous period in our country’s history, and involved direct attacks by the Japanese on the Australian mainland, in particular Darwin and Sydney.” Australia was defended by more than a half a million full time Navy, Army and Air Force personnel as well as the women's services during this time. Civilians also contributed, working in jobs geared towards the war effort and living with wartime controls including rationing and restrictions on movement. Australia initially came under Japanese attack four days after the Fall of Singapore with two air raids launched against Darwin on 19 February 1942. More than 240 Japanese fighters and bombers attacked Darwin twice during the day, killing more than 250 Allied service personnel and civilians. Subsequent air raids continued across northern Australia including attacks on Port Hedland, Broome, Derby, Katherine and Townsville until November, 1943. In this month Darwin experienced its 64th, and last, air raid. In May 1942 the battle of the Coral Sea was fought in waters to the east of Papua. Just a few months later, in July, the Japanese began an overland advance towards Port Moresby from Papua’s east coast before suffering decisive defeats on the Kokoda Track and at Milne Bay. On 31 May 1942 three Japanese midget submarines attacked Sydney Harbour, killing 19 Australian and two British sailors on the depot ship HMAS Kuttabul. Japanese submarines continued to operate along Australian eastern waters until June 1943. To mark Battle for Australia Day, Mr Snowdon announced $65,000 to help fund an exhibition at the Museum of Sydney titled Home front: wartime Sydney 1939 – 1945. “Funded through the Saluting Their Service commemorations program, this project will increase awareness and understanding of this important period in Australia’s wartime history,” he said. The exhibition runs from 31 March 2012 to 9 September 2012. The opening coincides with the 70th anniversary of the battles fought in defence of Australia including the attack on Sydney Harbour by Japanese midget submarines. Battle for Australia Day is commemorated every year on the first Wednesday in September – it marks the first defeat of Japanese forces in the Battle of Milne Bay. For more information on Australia under attack during the Second World War visit Australia's War 1939-1945 | Australians in war | World War 2 | War in the Pacific Battle for Australia Day services are being held around the country. A media backgrounder isavailable for download from the DVA Media centre at Media Centre
