With ANZAC Day upon us again, I will remember with gratitude and love all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and I sincerely thank every past and present defence member for their service. I love this country and I am incredibly grateful that we experience the freedoms we do (although, it may seem that we can't enjoy that freedom as intended right now, and I hope you are all safe and healthy in these strange times).
In 1919, a young man named Thomas Marsh returned from WWI. He walked through the main street of Fremantle, and took his life. The government of the time did not understand the problem, and so left it to a future government to fix. 100 years later, in 2019, a young Dave Finney drove from ACT to NSW and took his life after 20 years of service. I cannot speak for the parents of Thomas Marsh, but I can assure you David Finney's parents will never get over losing their son. The government of today don't understand the problem, so they will cover it up and leave it up to a future government to fix. 100 years of the same, 100 years of shame. Lest we forget.
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I ask that when you reflect on what has passed today, that you remember the "Vets we Forget" - those that lost the war at home. There are too many and they continue to die. Our bravest deserve solutions, and the only way to do that is through an open and transparent investigation. In other words: a Royal Commission.
At this point. the Morrison Government offers only a "review" into past suicides. We have had too many reviews, and they don't dig deep enough. Following this review, a new Commissioner will be appointed to fully investigate veteran suicides as they occur. To this I say: no, Prime Minister. We don't need any more suicides, we have enough to investigate fully right now.
Thank you for signing this petition and being with me throughout this journey to a Royal Commission. Today, I'm asking you to be brave enough to share it in whatever way you can. This fight is not over. Our living heroes deserve all of our support with a full and frank Royal Commission. My heart aches for my son in a way I can never describe. I'm not the only parent with this feeling.
Lest we forget.
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With love, dignity, gratitude and respect,
Julie-Ann Finney
Proud mother of Dave Finney