Australian National Flag Day – Merchant Navy Day
Thursday, 02 September 2010 14:30
Senator Abetz is encouraging all Tasmanians to celebrate Australian National Flag Day and Merchant Navy Day this Friday the 3rd of September.
As part of the celebrations Senator Abetz will be visiting Bicheno on Friday to attend the Merchant Navy Day Ceremony at the Australian Merchant Navy Memorial, Waubs Bay, Bicheno.
The children of Bicheno Primary School are the official guardians of the Merchant Navy memorial in Bicheno on behalf of the community and they will be present on the day.
“The Merchant Navy suffered the greatest percentage loss of life of any of the services in both World Wars and its civilian members faced constant danger and suffered tragic losses in the defence of our nation,” said Senator Abetz.
“Bicheno has a long affinity with the sea and the fishing industry and as such I am honoured to be officiating at a special presentation of Australian Red Ensigns to the Bicheno fishing fleet.”
“On Australia Day 2004, the citizens of Bicheno created a world first by granting their Charter conferring the medieval civic honour of Freedom of Entry on the Australian Merchant Navy; this being the first time in history any community in the World had ever honoured its Merchant Navy in full.”
“The illuminated Charter was formally exercised on the 3rd of February, 2005, when the Australian tall ship James Craig (1874) entered and anchored in the Port of Bicheno and the Master and Commander came ashore with 50 of his crew in uniform to partake in a civic ceremony.”
“As an inaugural member of the Merchant Navy Foundation, it will give me the utmost pleasure to observe Merchant Navy Day on 3rd September, 2010 at Bicheno,” said Senator Abetz.
