Indigenous soldier honours family’s century of service to Australia
Retired First Nations soldier Rob Thatcher reflects on his family’s century of military service as we invite Kids News readers to take our Anzac Day Dawn Service ‘code of conduct’ poll
READING LEVEL: ORANGE
EDITOR’S NOTE – OPINION:
Many of you will know by now that several of Saturday’s Anzac Day services in Australian capital cities were unfortunately marred* by booing and some of you may have even had to witness this behaviour first-hand.
The debate around whether a Welcome to Country should be included when commemorating our ANZACs* has continued into this week, with newspaper columnists and social media commentators still weighing in.
But whether they argue for or against, it is a very different question to ask whether we, as a civilised society, condone* booing during any such solemn ceremony or large public event of national importance.
Australians live in a peaceful, democratic country where people are allowed to hold and express different opinions.
People disagree all the time – and making space for dissenting* views is one of the basic tenets* of Australia’s democratic values.
Debate is healthy and its importance in the world today cannot be overstated. But there is a vast difference between questioning something in a mutually respectful and polite manner and booing an invited, distinguished guest while they extend their welcome to those gathered to pay their respects.
Booing has no place in that program.
Your Kids News editor attended a moving Anzac Day service on Saturday morning at beautiful Nelson Bay, NSW. The shoulder-to-shoulder sense of community, the stirring Last Post, the dramatic fighter jet fly-over, the stunning coastal environment, the blue skies and native birdsong together served as a wonderful, timely reminder of what it is to be Australian, and of how very lucky we are.
Anzac Day is a time to come together to honour all our ANZACs and remember those who never made it home to their families. Their ranks have included First Nations people since Australia as a nation was formed.
Lest we forget.
Diana Jenkins – Kids News editor
ONE INDIGENOUS FAMILY’S CENTURY OF SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA
By Stephen Drill
The military has been part of Rob Thatcher’s family for more than a century.
The First Nations soldier’s great-grandfather served in World War I, his grandfather served in World War II, his uncle was in Vietnam, and he himself served in Afghanistan.
His brother Thomas also served in the NORFORCE*, protecting remote parts of the Kimberley and Northern Territory.
And his younger brother has also enlisted.
“One of many reasons that I could say initially (I joined) was the pride of having military servicemen in my family,” said Mr Thatcher, who served in the 8th/9th Battalion*, Royal Australian Regiment.
“It was not only to fill those shoes, but to see them as the standard that I could achieve.”
Mr Thatcher, 31, was one of four Indigenous soldiers in his battalion of around 700 when he enlisted.
“There’ll be some cool things coming down the line as well, not only with 8/9 RAR, but the brigade, with the involvement with Indigenous relations and culture,” Mr Thatcher said. “(We) will start to see didgeridoo and other aspects like that within formal ceremonies of the army.”
Mr Thatcher joined his mates from the 8th/9th RAR on Anzac Day for the 10th anniversary of their tour.
They were part of the commemorations at Anzac Square in Brisbane and planned to head to the Gallipoli Barracks to catch up afterwards.
Mr Thatcher was stationed at Camp Qargha during his tour of Afghanistan – a 15-minute helicopter ride from Kabul.
He provided protection for former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when he visited the war-torn country in January 2016.
Mr Thatcher also did supply runs and helped set up training bases for the Afghan National Army recruits.
“We were driving Bushmasters, the highest safety-rated vehicle in the world,” he said.
“They’re 15 tonnes but we even used them in the snow in Afghanistan, it got through that slippery snow and mud.”
The 8/9 RAR shared the Qargha base with NATO forces, including the British 2nd Scots Regiment and the 2nd Gurkha Regiment.
During his tour, most of the battalion was confined to the base.
However, vetted locals were allowed to set up small shops on the base, including a barber.
Mr Thatcher retired from the army due to an injury to his neck.
He had an operation last year to replace C4 and C5 vertebrae*, with a visible scar on the front of his neck.
But he has stayed in touch with the army, despite retiring.
He is now involved in the Orchid Beach RSL, which is on K’gari Island, off Queensland’s coast.
POLL
GLOSSARY
- marred: damaged, spoiled
- ANZACs: originally referring especially to members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who served in World War I at the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign of 25 April, 1915, the term now represents all men and women who serve Australia in our armed forces
- condone: to accept or allow behaviour that is wrong
- dissenting: showing a strongly different opinion on a particular question, especially an official suggestion or plan, a legal decision, or a popular belief
- tenets: fundamental principles, a set of accepted, founding beliefs among a particular group
- NORFORCE: the Australian Army’s North West Regional Surveillance Force, based at the Larrakeyah Barracks in Darwin
- battalion: a large military unit under a single leader, consisting of three or more companies
- vertebrae: the small circular bones that form the spine of a human being or animal
EXTRA READING
Why do we mark Anzac Day each year?
What is Remembrance Day all about?
QUICK QUIZ
- What marred several Anzac Day Dawn Services around the country last Saturday 25 April?
- Which ancestors of retired Indigenous soldier Rob Thatcher served in World War I and II?
- During which war did Mr Thatcher serve and in which battalion?
- Mr Thatcher helped provide security detail in the Middle East for which former prime minister?
- What was the name of the vehicle Mr Thatcher used for supply runs and helped set up training bases during the war?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. First Nations ANZACS
Locate the First Nations Australians serving during World War I page on the ANZAC portal at dva.gov.au. Use information on this website to design a special poster. The purpose of your poster is to help other kids understand who our First Nations ANZAC heroes were.
Time: allow at least 60 minutes for this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History
2. Extension
Although around 1000-1300 First Nations people served in World War I, including around 70 who fought at Gallipoli, we do not know the full story of their service. List some reasons why you think this important part of our history is incomplete.
Time: allow at least 25 minutes on this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History
VCOP ACTIVITY
Imaginative dialogue
Imagine you were there during one of the disrupted Dawn Service events that saw people in the crowd booing during the Welcome to Country.
Create a conversation between two people who were present - you may need or want to include yourself as one of the characters. Don’t forget to try to use facts and details from the news story section to help make your dialogue as realistic as possible.
Go through your writing and highlight any punctuation you have used in green. Make sure you carefully check the punctuation used for the dialogue and ensure you have opened and closed the speaking in the correct places.