1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,920 Speaker 1: Well, one territorian and former member of Defense has indeed 2 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: organized a bit of a vigil for this evening. Now 3 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: he is also running for counsel for the by election, 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: but we're not talking about that this morning. This is 5 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: actually about the fact that this figil is taking place, 6 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: so I want to keep those two things very separate. 7 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: But joining me in the studio right now is Sam Western. 8 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: Good morning to you. Sam. Now, Sam, obviously this figel's 9 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,240 Speaker 1: being organized or you're doing your best to try and 10 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: organize this vigil. Are you looking at the cenotaph? Aren't 11 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: you at the esplanade tonight? 12 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 2: Yep, six forty five. We're going to do a bit 13 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 2: of a one minute silence. We're going to have a 14 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,840 Speaker 2: couple of people have a speech. We'll get to Padre there. 15 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 2: It's a community run event. We're obviously doing it via 16 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 2: DAH and RSL because I'm on the committee. It's for 17 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 2: the whole community, it's for you know, there's two and 18 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:54,959 Speaker 2: a half thousand people on this exercise. I'm sure there's 19 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 2: friends and family here. There is a chance for everyone 20 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 2: to come together, light a candle, lays and flowers and 21 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 2: you know, just you know, deal with this as a community, 22 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 2: which we pretty good out here in Darwen. 23 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: Mate, what's it like for you as a veteran when 24 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: you hear the news that started to come through yesterday. 25 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 2: It's gut wrenching, particularly on our own you know, It's 26 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 2: happened in our own TV island of all places, like 27 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 2: one of those peaceful places up here. It's gut wrenching 28 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 2: because these are people that are serving this country. They're 29 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 2: working with Australian soldiers. This is a pretty major exercise. 30 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: I've been on lots of exercises and yeah, when you 31 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 2: lose them like this, it really hits home. 32 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, it was. It was terrible as that detail 33 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: started to flow through yesterday and I know for us 34 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: in the media, you sort of start to hear that 35 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: something's happened. You don't know in terms of the fatalities, 36 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: how extensive it could be. Twenty three people on that 37 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: or spray yesterday. 38 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's pretty upsetting. And obviously these people have families 39 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: back home which would be suffering because I think as 40 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 2: a community and now if we can come together, you 41 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: know and show respect and love and honor towards these 42 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 2: people that lost their lives yesterday, you know, the esplanade 43 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 2: tonight would be a great way for us to do it. 44 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: So what time is it kicking off. I've asked people to. 45 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 2: Come down at six point thirty and then we're going 46 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 2: to sort of six forty five, will do the minute silence, 47 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 2: you know, Atlona go for about ten minutes, but you know, 48 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 2: just enough for us to come together. And again, I 49 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 2: can't emphasize this for the whole community. However, I have 50 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: been contacted by Defense. They've asked that no one turns 51 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 2: up in uniform. 52 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: I can't. 53 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 2: I have to acknowledge that. 54 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: So so if you are, if you are a member 55 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: of Defense, don't turn up in your uniform. Just come along. 56 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: It's really just about getting the community together and just 57 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: showing the respect all those Marines. 58 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: Hey yeah, and you know, yeah, so I invite everyone like, 59 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 2: this is not political, this is not nice. This has 60 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 2: just come down as a community lighter candle, you know, 61 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 2: and we'll mourn together and respect those that lost their 62 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 2: lives yesterday. 63 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: I I actually think it's so incredibly important for it 64 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: to happen and for the families of those Marines to 65 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 1: know that this has impacted the whole Northern Territory community. 66 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: We know that those Marines, right, they're here for periods 67 00:03:02,160 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: of time, and we spoke to the Chief Minister about 68 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: this earlier this morning. They go out, they volunteer at 69 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 1: different community events that we've got on. They go out, 70 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: They are part of the Northern Territory community while they're here. 71 00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 2: They helped me. I had fifty of them on Christmas 72 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 2: Day feed the homeless. Like these guys, whenever I do something, 73 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 2: someone from the Marines contacts me to get involved. So 74 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 2: these guys are a part of guys and girls are 75 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 2: part of our community. So the least we could do 76 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:28,920 Speaker 2: is have a minute silence and light a candle for 77 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:30,799 Speaker 2: them as Darwinites. 78 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: And as you said, it is it's going to be 79 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 1: a casual you know, a casual thing. This is not 80 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: an official service. This is just about showing those Marines 81 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: and well the whole Defense Force and everybody involved in 82 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: these exercises as well, that you're part of our community, 83 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: you're part of our lives. 84 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 2: And thinking of you know, as I said, there's two 85 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: and a half thousand people out there right now on exercise. 86 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 2: Probably you know their anxiety, what's happening. We've got to 87 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 2: send a bit of love towards them as well. So 88 00:03:58,040 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 2: I think this is a good way. 89 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: Do Yeah, and Sam, like you said, it's not a like, 90 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: it's not an official event, it's not organized by the government, 91 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: it's not organized by defense something like that is. 92 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 2: I've upset a few people on the apple cart and 93 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 2: I'll deal with that tomorrow. But right now, if we 94 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 2: can get together and do this and we'll sort out 95 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 2: the paperwork tomorrow. 96 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think that that's the way that it's going 97 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: to have to go. Really, And do you know what 98 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:21,880 Speaker 1: if you hadn't you know, if you just went and 99 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: did it this afternoon, well you'd have to deal with 100 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: the consequence tomorrow anyway. But this is about the community 101 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: showing support for those people. 102 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:31,599 Speaker 2: I think that's what it's about. I think it's important 103 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: to a lot of people. Like I said, we'll deal 104 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:34,679 Speaker 2: with the red tape tomorrow. 105 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, mate, if you had people contact you, you know 106 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: at the Mad Snake in terms of wanting to get 107 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:41,600 Speaker 1: a lot. 108 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 2: Of people who a lot of so many community people 109 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 2: want to come to it, so it's gone pretty crazy 110 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 2: out there. But yeah, again, Sick, if you can come 111 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 2: at six point thirty, we'll get it going at six 112 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 2: forty five and it'll probably be done by sort of 113 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: seven o'clock. I think it's just shown a bit of 114 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 2: respect for the fallen 115 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: Well Sam Western from the Mad Snake and and veteran, 116 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: we always appreciate your time, mate, Thanks very much for 117 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: coming in and telling us about it.