Juliana ADDISON (Wendouree) (19:07): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Veterans, and the action that I seek is for the minister to visit Ballarat to meet with representatives of veterans organisations in my community and visit significant memorials to the fallen and to those who have served in my electorate of Wendouree.

With Anzac Day approaching, it is timely to invite the Minister for Veterans to Ballarat. The region is home to 5000 veterans and a number of organisations who do great work supporting our veterans and their families, including the Ballarat RSL sub-branch, the Ballarat Veterans Assistance Centre, the Legacy club of Ballarat, the Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour Committee, the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Ballarat sub-branch, the Military Brotherhood Military Motorcycle Club, the Totally & Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Servicemen and Women’s Association of Victoria Ballarat branch, the trustees of the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial and others.

As a city, we are proud of our veterans and honour them with many memorials, statues and cenotaphs across our city and region. This is also evident in the large crowds that continue to grow at Anzac Day services each year.

The Arch of Victory, situated in Alfredton, is a prominent landmark and is significant for many reasons. The arch stands more than 16 metres tall and nearly 20 metres wide. It was constructed with more than 70,000 bricks, which were laid by local bricklayer George Brookes and his team in just three months in 1920.

The funds required to construct our grand archway did not come from a government, nor from a council, nor from a returned servicemen’s organisation; the money was raised by more than 500 women workers at the Eleanor Lucas lingerie factory. They were affectionately known as the Lucas girls and are held in the highest esteem for the extraordinary legacy they have left.

Located at the Arch of Victory is the Garden of the Grieving Mother. It is a very special place that pays tribute to the mothers and families of all Australian servicemen and women in all wars.

The Arch of Victory also marks the entrance to our 22-kilometre Avenue of Honour, which includes 3771 trees and a plaque recognising every Ballarat local who enlisted their services in World War I. Ballarat’s Avenue of Honour is Australia’s largest and longest avenue of honour.

I would also like to take the minister to the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial. The national memorial recognises all Australian prisoners of war and acknowledges the hardship, the deprivation, the brutality, the starvation and the disease endured during capture and the scars many continued to endure upon their return to Australia. It also is a place to reflect on the 8600 prisoners of war who lost their lives.

I look forward to welcoming the minister to Ballarat.

Watch and read more of my speeches to Parliament here – including responses from ministers on how we’re working for Wendouree.