Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Anzac Day

Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:51): As this is the final sitting week before Anzac Day, I rise to honour the service and sacrifices of veterans from my electorate. Brigadier George Furner Langley, born in 1891, served in both world wars. He served in Gallipoli, in the Sinai and in the Palestine campaigns during the First World War and served on the home front during the second. Between wars Langley was a dedicated educator, eventually becoming headmaster of Box Hill High School in 1948, right in the heart of my electorate. He later led Melbourne High School and was recognised for his lifetime service to the country and community with a CBE in 1958. His legacy still lives on in Box Hill today and beyond.

We also remember Thomas and James Bowman Sloan, brothers from Box Hill who served in the 21st battalion during World War I. On 2 September 1915 their troopship HMT Southland was torpedoed en route to Gallipoli. Tragically, the brothers both drowned. They were buried side by side on the Greek island of Lemnos, a powerful reminder of the cost of war.

This Anzac Day I pay tribute to these men and to the thousands from our local area who gave their lives in service to our nation. Their stories are but part of a greater legacy, our shared history. We honour them and remember them. Lest we forget.