Wattle in memory of Australians lost

 

2022 the death of a Queen marked by the addition of a sprig of wattle to large wreaths vertical 

 

 

  In 1999 our Governor General, Sir William Dean, dropped sprigs of wattle into the Saxeton River in Switzerland during a memorial service for 14 Australians killed in a Canyoning expedition, and in 2014, our Prime Minister John Howard, wore sprigs of wattle during ceremonies following the Bali Bombings (2002) 

In 2014 Australians were mourned from two plane tragedies 

Ten years ago, on 8 March 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 took off from Kuala Lumpur en route to Beijing with 239 people aboard – and was never seen again. One

 

 

They were among 298 people, including 38 Australians, killed when the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was struck as it travelled over eastern Ukraine that day.

the memorial service for the death of a Queen

 

 

 

 

 

ADDRESS BY SIR WILLIAM DEANE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE CANYONING TRAGEDY INTERLAKEN, SWITZERLAND

THURSDAY, 5 AUGUST 1999

We are gathered in great sadness to mourn the deaths of the 21 young people who were killed in the canyoning accident near here, last week. They came from five nations Switzerland, the United Kingdom, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Their loss is a profound tragedy for their families and friends who are in the thoughts and the prayers of all of us at this service today. We pray with them for their loved ones who have died. And we also pray that, in the words of our Lord (Matthew Ch.5, v.4), they will truly be comforted.

Fourteen of the victims of the tragedy came from Australia. Collectively, their deaths represent probably the greatest single peacetime loss of young Australians outside our own country. That loss affects not only their families and friends, dreadful though that is. It also deeply affects our nation as a whole and all of its people.

I have, as Governor-General of Australia, with Senator John Herron of our Government come here on behalf of Australia and of all Australians, to mourn them, to be with and to sympathise with their family members and friends who are here, and to demonstrate how important they were to their homeland. For us, the tragedy is somehow made worse by the fact that they died so far away from the homes the families, the friends and the land they loved so well.

Australia and Switzerland are on opposite sides of the globe. Yet, in this age of modern telecommunications, one effect of the disaster has been to bring our two countries closer together. On every night since the accident, Switzerland has been in every Australian home that has been tuned into the television news, as well as on the radio, in all our newspapers and other media outlets. Conversely, the fact that two-thirds of those who died came from Australia has given rise to an increased awareness here in Switzerland of my country and its people.

Switzerland has, of course, itself experienced the shock and sorrow of overseas tragedy in the past. Perhaps that has heightened the sympathy and understanding which it has shown in recent days. I have already had the privilege of meeting with you, Madam President, and with Vice-President Ogi and exchanging condolences. I would, on this solemn occasion, like to express to the Swiss authorities and to the people of Switzerland, particularly the people of the Wilderswil and Interlaken regions, our abiding gratitude for all the help and assistance they have provided in the aftermath of the tragedy. In particular, I pay tribute to the bravery of all those who worked in the rescue efforts. We thank them for their skill and dedication. I also particularly mention the competence, the compassion and the kindness of all who have helped to look after the survivors and the relatives who have come here.

The young people—certainly the young Australians—who have been killed all shared the spirit of adventure, the joy of living, the exuberance and the delight of youth.

That spirit inspired their lives, and lit the lives of all who knew than, until the end. We remember that and so many other wonderful things about them as we mourn them and grieve for young lives cut so tragically short. And all of us feel and share in their collective loss. For these 21 young men and women were part—a shining part—of our humanity. As John Donne wrote, “No man is an island”. Anyone’s “death diminishes” us all because we are all “involved in mankind”.

Yesterday, my wife and I, together with family members and friends of the Australian victims visited the canyon where the accident occurred. There, in memory of each of the 14 young people who came from our homeland we cast into the Saxetenbach 14 sprigs of wattle, our national floral emblem, which we had brought with us from Government House in Canberra. Somehow, we felt that was bringing a little of Australia to them.

It was also in a symbolic way, helping to bring them home to our county. That is not to suggest that their spirit and their memory will not linger forever here in Switzerland, at the place where they died. Rather, it is to suggest that a little part of Switzerland has become, and will always be, to some extent, part of Australia. As it will also be part of other countries outside Switzerland—New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom—from whence they came.

It is still winter at home. But the golden wattles are coming into bloom. Just as these young men and women were in the flower of their youth. And when we are back in Australia we will remember how the flowers and the perfume and the pollen of their and our homeland were carried down the river where they died to Lake Brienz in this beautiful country on the far side of the world.

May they all rest with God.