In her speech at Deloraine’s memorial service on Wednesday, Her Excellency added the day was a chance to reflect on the impacts of war on people who remained at home while friends and loved ones fought, and devastation inflicted on the families of enemy soldiers.

She said that living veterans should not be neglected.

“There are many former Australian Defence Force members who are homeless,” Her Excellency said. 

“A University of Western Australia study found almost half of 2952 former ADF members who had experienced homelessness in the last year were found to have a serious brain injury, PTSD or head trauma.

“They need our help. We should remember them all.”

She said 108 men from Deloraine died in World War I, out of a total of 410 from the municipality who served.

“Staggeringly, one man in four who served from this municipality lost his life,” Her Excellency said. 

“What a devastating impact this must have had on their loved ones, the community and its resources.”

She reflected on the story of William Henry Andrewartha, who died on the Western Front, and James Norbert Griffin, who fought at Beersheba and who was awarded a Military Cross.

Her Excellency said there were more than 80 services being held in communities around Tasmania.

“For me, this is the essence of Anzac Day – a local event around a town’s cenotaph, which is an opportunity to respectfully remember those who have been killed, wounded and traumatised by war including the devastating effect of war on lives back home.”