MEDIA STATEMENT

KAREN BATT, CPSU VICTORIAN BRANCH SECRETARY

Thursday 23 September 2021

 

This should never happen again.  Our Shrine belongs to all Victorians.

Victorians watched in horror yesterday as our National Icon, Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, was hijacked by a small but violent group of demonstrators.

Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance is a sacred place and was built in 1927 to honour Victorians who served in World War I, and is now a memorial to all Australians who have served in any war.

Most of the cost to build the Shrine was raised in less than six months by public contributions

Our Shrine is one of the largest war memorials in Australia and is of critical importance to the current and ex-service members of our community, and their families, for commemorating service and for the remembrance of those who have died.

Inside the Shrine is the Sanctuary.  At the centre of the Sanctuary is the Stone of Remembrance. The stone is sunk for a purpose so visitors must bow their heads to read the inscription.

Our Shrine is a place of quiet contemplation of lives lost.

It is not a place that should be acquired by any group for a nefarious political objective.

Our members who work at the Shrine were on-site yesterday and horrified by what they witnessed.

This is also their workplace, and no one should be threatened or abused at work.

I acknowledge the work of the members of Victoria Police.

LET ALL MEN KNOW THAT THIS IS HOLY GROUND.
THIS SHRINE, ESTABLISHED IN THE HEARTS OF MEN AS ON THE SOLID EARTH, COMMEMORATES A PEOPLE'S FORTITUDE AND SACRIFICE.
YE THEREFORE THAT COME AFTER, GIVE REMEMBRANCE.

 Inscription on the western wall of the Shrine