1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: At eleven o'clock this morning, people across the country will 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: observe the one minute silence to honor the fallen and 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: to reflect on their sacrifice. Now joining us in the 4 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: studio is Colonel Judd Finger, commander of the first Brigade. 5 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: Good morning to. 6 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 2: You, Good morning Katie, thanks for having joining Greg. 7 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, thank you so much for your time now, Colonel, 8 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: today is one of the most significant days on the 9 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: commemorative calendar. What does Remembrance Day mean to you and 10 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: to those currently serving in the Australian Defense Force? 11 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 2: Two parts. It's a real reflection on the absolute tragedy 12 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 2: and loss of life and the major conflicts have gone 13 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 2: before us and particularly those soldier, sellers and aviators have 14 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 2: made the ultimate sacrifice. But more importantly from my perspective, 15 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 2: is actually acknowledging that we still have one hundreds, if 16 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 2: not thousands of Defense Force personnel still out in the 17 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 2: region globally conducting operations and activities. They're away from families 18 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: and loved one. They continue to do business on behalf 19 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 2: of Australia's national interests. 20 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: And you know, continue to put themselves in danger. I 21 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: know every day might not be a dangerous situation. But 22 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: they're making that sacrifice, you know, they're away from their families. 23 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 2: For us, for Australia, Yeah, and we look back Rememberance days, 24 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 2: the ultimate sacrifice of those who have paid with their lives. 25 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 2: But the nature of service, of working in the military 26 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 2: is the everyday sacrifice. Has been away from families, been 27 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: away from loved ones, continual postings and serving overseas and 28 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 2: months on end every year for whatever nation requires office. 29 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 1: How important is it do you think for younger generations 30 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: to continue observing the one minute silence and understanding the 31 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: history behind Remembrance Day. 32 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: I think there's two parts to it. The first is 33 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 2: the absolute tragedy of war. We should never forget the 34 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 2: loss when you look at the two major wars, tens 35 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: of millions of Savins, solar sales and aviators have lost 36 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 2: their lives. But also to acknowledge the hard work, the 37 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: sacrifices and the unity that Australia and particularly the Darwin 38 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 2: community is suffered through World War II and what it 39 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 2: means to us as a nation. 40 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 1: I mean, when you look at our history here in 41 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory and you know the volume of defense 42 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,799 Speaker 1: personnel that we've got here in the Northern Territory as well. 43 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:13,839 Speaker 1: Do you think that that makes a daylight today even 44 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: more special and more significant? 45 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: I think it's twofold. First, it's a defense town, as 46 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,240 Speaker 2: we were discussing before, and the defense community is a 47 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 2: part of the community for many decades. But you know, 48 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: Darwin has a really rich and strong history with war 49 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 2: World War II, for the bombing of Darwin. You know, 50 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:35,679 Speaker 2: Darwin was eminently involved with conflict. It is seen through 51 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 2: the population of that suffering that concurred to the civilian 52 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,280 Speaker 2: population times of war. So I think it makes it 53 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: even more reflective in the Darwin community. 54 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: We know that many Australians might not have a direct 55 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: family linked to military service, but what would you say 56 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: to encourage them to really take part in the remembrance 57 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: state commemorations. 58 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, this isn't a celebration. It's a day of remembrance. Yeah, 59 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 2: and it's a day of reflection. And I'll go back 60 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: to the two parts. The first is to actually knowledge 61 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 2: the tragedy of war. We are not here to celebrate 62 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 2: at all, but also just pay thanks and tribute to 63 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,239 Speaker 2: those who've laid down their lives in the service of 64 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 2: their nation. 65 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: And Finally, how are your members of the first Brigade 66 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: marking the day? I mean not only here at home, 67 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: but also for those that might be deployed. 68 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 2: You know, we've got the Brigade out in full force 69 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: today amongst the community to conduct and oversee member and 70 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: services at a number of schools age care facilities. Will 71 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 2: be at the Dalmen Cenotaph this morning to do the 72 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 2: member in service. As I said, we're part of the community. 73 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: We'll have soldiers out with their children at schools and 74 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 2: we'll have it soldiers out in the community to give 75 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 2: back to those who who have supported us throughout the years. 76 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: What's it like then when you're head out to the schools. Firstly, 77 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 1: you know, the kids must be sort of I think, 78 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: really interested and engaged in what you've got to say. 79 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 2: And it's interesting to note that a lot of those 80 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 2: children come from Defense members. To the schools have Defense 81 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 2: families and Defense children who move every two to three years. 82 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: If you're a child and Defense you're probably making ten 83 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: moves throughout your childhood years. So it's really good to 84 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 2: give back to those schools. 85 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it must be a proud time for those 86 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: kids as well, you know, to sort of learn more 87 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 1: about their family members' work. 88 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 2: It is and in a lot of it's marked by sacrifice, 89 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 2: the moves, the constant time, having mum and dad away 90 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 2: from the family unit of months on end every year. 91 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 2: So it's always good to give back to the community. 92 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,239 Speaker 1: And kinnl what about when you go out to those 93 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: age care facilities, because for some of those in the 94 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: age care facilities, they may have even spent time in 95 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: the Defense Force at some point, or they may have 96 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: you know, have been here well, you know around, and 97 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: their families may have been involved within the Defense Force. 98 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 1: It's probably a really special time for them as well. Difficult, 99 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: but special. 100 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, And it's always good to give back to different 101 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 2: parts of the community, age care facilities and schools, in 102 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 2: particular with the youth and the elderly. And as you mentioned, 103 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 2: a lot of the elderly been children through this war. 104 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: So even some of the exceptionally elderly probably part of 105 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: the war, have served within the wars. 106 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 1: Well, Colonel Judd Finger, the commander of first Brigade, really 107 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:12,800 Speaker 1: appreciate your time this morning. Now, I know that there's 108 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: also the service along the Esperanade today as well, isn't 109 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,679 Speaker 1: there there is. Yeah, I'm sure that'll be a moving 110 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: service bit of wet weather around, so hopefully things clear 111 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 1: up a little bit for that this morning. 112 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 2: Thanks Kati, thanks for having on your program. 113 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: Thank you, thanks so much for your time.