1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: Today is the fact that the Bombing of Darwin commemorations 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: are underway. It's the day that war came to our 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:11,320 Speaker 1: shore February nineteen, nineteen forty two, the largest single attack 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. On that day, 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 1: we know that one hundred and eighty eight Japanese aircraft 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,239 Speaker 1: in two separate raids attacked Darwin and killed more than 7 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: two hundred and thirty people, with a further three hundred 8 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:30,639 Speaker 1: to four hundred wounded. And today, no doubt there is 9 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: going to be plenty of people paying their respects. Now 10 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: joining us on the line is the commanding Officer of 11 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: HMAS Kunawara, Captain Bernadette Alexander. Good morning to you. Captain. 12 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 2: Good morning Kate, thanks for having us. You are right, 13 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 2: there's a real gathering for the bombing of Darwin. Now 14 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 2: you've seen right now. 15 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: I bet there is. You've been attending the USS Peerie 16 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: commemorative service this morning, haven't you, And then you're on 17 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: your way to the esplanade. 18 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 2: That's correct, Kate. We've just walked along as a contingent 19 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 2: from commemorating the USS Pery and I'm seeing lots of 20 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 2: veterans and family. The Darwin community is coming out quite 21 00:01:15,560 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 2: strongly for this very important commemoration. 22 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: And then there is no doubt that that bit of 23 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: wet weather out there is not going to deter Darwin, 24 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory, everybody from making sure that we commemorate 25 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 1: this incredibly important day. 26 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 2: Darwin is a resilient community. We've lant embraces the military 27 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 2: and they're doing a great job. I would also just 28 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 2: if people could look to the harbor. We have hm 29 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 2: s Cape Solander and she is hovering over the USS Piy, 30 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 2: the wreck of the USS Pury that was lost that 31 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: fateful day. 32 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, what was it like this morning just having 33 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: that commemorative service and you know, hearing about more about 34 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: happened on that day and the impact that it's had 35 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: on Darwin and our war history. 36 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 2: This really powerful message from the Americans and also from 37 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 2: the Japanese the importance of commemoration and it's our shared 38 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 2: responsibility to remember and it's our duty to honor the fallen. 39 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 2: And it just showed that what happened eighty four years ago, 40 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 2: we've actually risen from that and now we're partners with 41 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 2: America in Japan and that partnership is quite strong, and 42 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 2: that's actually what I got from the service. 43 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was going to ask you, how important is 44 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 1: it really on a daylight today to have the Marines, 45 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: the Aussies and the Japanese come together and remember but 46 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:49,399 Speaker 1: also sort of move ahead as allies. 47 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 2: Absolutely, the strength in partnership and moving ahead is absolutely 48 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 2: the scene. And it's also about you know, we lost 49 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 2: the last USS period veteran in two thousand and nine, 50 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: so it's important that all of these stories are told 51 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 2: so that the school children, the veterans that we do 52 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 2: remember our proud history. 53 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're spot on. I think it's such an important 54 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: thing to do and I would love to sort of 55 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: see more of that education in our schools. I know 56 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 1: that our kids do learn about our war history and 57 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: the bombing of Darwin. But Bernadette like, how you know, 58 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: how do you feel when you sort of hear that 59 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 1: people around the world aren't really aware of this part 60 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: of our history. 61 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 2: Well, I take that personally as Senior Officer of Northern Australia, 62 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 2: a Navy Officer of Northern Australia. But that's my commitment 63 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 2: to actually get out there and engage the community you'll 64 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: see a lot more this year of US Navy and 65 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 2: ADF being in schools that community engagement, because not only 66 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: that shared history that makes people proud, it's also the 67 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 2: leadership that we bring to the party and that we 68 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 2: really need to who you know, continue to progress. 69 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: That that's awesome, I reckon, that'll be great to see 70 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: you guys, you know, out at the schools and educating 71 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: our kids and making them a little bit more aware 72 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: of what's going on and the you know, the important 73 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: aspects of our history. 74 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Kate, and it actually it's actually a really personal 75 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 2: thing that you're proud of yourself to be a part 76 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 2: of that community. And people should be really proud to 77 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 2: be in Norman Territory because they do it very well 78 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 2: and they embrace the military. 79 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: Hey, that service on at the esplanade, I know you're 80 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: heading along to that. What can people expect there this morning. 81 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 2: You can expect the solemn ceremony. You can expect a 82 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: re enactment so it will get noisy with the gun salutes. 83 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:52,799 Speaker 2: There's vast area of undercover seats. You can expect the 84 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines to about being 85 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 2: proud of themselves and with the commemoration, and I was 86 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 2: just say, Kate, I've just watched a whole group of 87 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 2: school kids walk past, So it's really great to see 88 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,799 Speaker 2: the school kids out here. And I understand it's also 89 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 2: being live streamed on YouTube. So if people can't get 90 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 2: down here, I know there's lots of closed roads, it 91 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 2: is also being live streamed. 92 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: That's really good. I think it's fantastic for everybody then 93 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:25,039 Speaker 1: for it to be sort of accessible for everybody. Bernaved. 94 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: A couple of years ago, I actually spoke to a 95 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,479 Speaker 1: bloke called Brian Winspear. He was I think he was 96 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: ninety nine, or he may have been slightly older when 97 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: I spoke to him, and he was here in Darwin 98 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: when those bombs hit, and he's since passed away, but 99 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: he was an incredible an incredible man. And I tell 100 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 1: you what, you know, the more you learn about our 101 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: war history and the more that you hear those stories, 102 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: it just makes you realize what a resilient place we are. 103 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: But you know, the unbelievable work of you, you know, 104 00:05:55,320 --> 00:06:00,039 Speaker 1: of everybody within the defense force, you know, and the 105 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: different elements there, it is just incredible, really. 106 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 2: And so thanks Kate, it's our privilege to serve the community. 107 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 2: I would also offer at any time people when they 108 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: walk down darlin Esplanade there are all of the parks 109 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: and the history there for people to read, and we're 110 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 2: just I'm just really grateful for everyone coming out to 111 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: commemorate with us today. 112 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: Well, Commanding Officer of the hma Scooner Warra, Captain Bernadette Alexander, 113 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:30,360 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time.