An international honour for ANZAC Day
This year, for the first time, veterans and family members of veterans will help to deliver international ANZAC Day services as part of a new Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) initiative.
Following her successful application to participate in the initiative, RSL Victoria’s Salina Parton will join DVA to help deliver ANZAC Day commemorative services in Sandakan, Malaysia.
As Salina prepares to walk the ground that saw tragedy and atrocity, the gravity of her journey is sinking in.
“I think keeping my emotions in check is going to be quite difficult in terms of commemoration and what we are there for. It is on the site of the Prisoner of War (POW) camps, so I think it’s going to be very moving.”
In 1942 and 1943, the Japanese brought about 2,700 Australian and British POWs to Sandakan, most of whom were captured at the Fall of Singapore in February 1942.
As the Allied forces advanced in 1945, and after more than three years of the most unimaginable, inhumane conditions, over 1,000 POWs were marched from Sandakan to Ranau, 260 kilometres away, through treacherous jungle terrain. Those that made it were faced with equally appalling conditions. Those who were too weak to continue the journey were killed.
Approximately 2,400 Australian and British soldiers died at the Sandakan POW camp, on the marches and at Ranau. By the end of August 1945, only six survived, all of them Australians. Two escaped during the second march in June 1945, while the other four escaped from Ranau in July.
Alison McLaren is the DVA’s Deputy Secretary of Veteran, Family and Stakeholder Experience.
“We know veterans and their family members understand the tremendous importance of these services. They appreciate better than anyone the courage and sacrifice that was required on these battlefields so long ago. They will actively help keep the memory alive of the service of Australians in conflicts, wars and peace operations.”
Alison McLaren
A personal connection
Salina is driven by her personal experiences in the Australian Defence Force and her ongoing desire to give back to the veteran community.
“My husband is currently serving, I’m ex-serving, my son is about to take off any day now in the Air Force, so we’ve got a strong military family going back to grandparents, who served as well. I feel I’ve got a great understanding of what the veteran and the veteran family member experience is.”
As RSL Victoria’s RSL Active Program Officer, Salina is passionate about and acutely aware of the current needs of the veteran community. She also understands the long-lasting impacts of war and the importance of honouring those from years gone by.
“A lot of my role at RSL Victoria concentrates on the more modern veteran, but commemoration is an important part of our organisation. This is a good opportunity to be involved in something that is meaningful and commemorates those who made the ultimate sacrifice, particularly in Sandakan.”
The program’s participants will help in roles ranging from attendee arrivals to and departures from the service, providing information and advice to attendees, and speaking or laying a wreath at the service.
“I’m very aware that it’s an amazing opportunity. I’m very honoured that I’ve been chosen to go and I’m very happy to be supporting the DVA team.”
You can read more about Salina Parton here, or listen to her interview on Beyond the Barracks.
This story was originally published in the April 2025 edition of Mufti.
