WORK FOR THE DOLE GRADUATION

_{24 October, 2006}

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I would like to thank you all for coming today, but most importantly those who were involved in this particular project.   Look its great to see the work you guys have done, well I haven’t as yet seen it I must say, I’m going to have a look shortly but I hear it has come together quite well.

The Government is very pleased with this particular programme and with giving you guys the opportunity to get some confidence, to understand what it is like to be in the work force and hopefully the skills and training you get in this particular project will help you to move into the work force and to do the things you want to do in life.

I think this project is a particularly good one because the RAAF museum here in Townsville does really highlight a very important element of our country, that is our Royal Australian Air Force, it highlights the great work that the RAAF have done over decades now in helping to protect Australia and goes back quite a long way.

A lot of this base we are on now, Garbutt now, has been here for more than 50 years and it was of course during the Second World War, long before any of you were even thought of, and even before I was thought of I’m pleased to say, that this was almost the centre of the universe in the fight against a prospective invasion from Japan. This particular area was very significant in the fight to keep Australia free and in the way we know it today.

I understand the Blitz truck that you have been restoring is not quite finished but will shortly be put together when the final part arrives.  The old Blitz truck was the work horse of the Second World War and without it it would have been very difficult to move the materials and people around the islands and in other theatres of war.  The Blitz truck certainly played a very big part in the history of Australia’s involvement in the Second World War.

There aren’t to many of them around now, and the work you’ve done in helping to restore this will become part of our heritage.

This project has add another piece to the museum which will help all of Townsville and in fact all Australians understand just what a significant element of our society is the RAAF and what important part Townsville played in the defence of our country over many many years.

So congratulations to you all, I hope you’ve enjoyed the work.  I hope that it does give you some enthusiasm to work for other types of work in this area and just being involved doing your bit, you may not have been able to fix motors or paint body work or whatever is involved in restoring a 1940 Blitz.   But whatever you have done has all been significant and will I think give you skills, training and enthusiasm to look to the future.

I will also mention the Museum volunteers who do a lot of work in their own time and the guys from Mission Australia who do a fabulous job.  They are a great organisation, they do a lot of Work for Dole projects for the Government and I think the Government is very keen to keep using Mission Australia.

Congratulations to you all, I think it is now going to be my honour to present certificates to all those involved.

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