Alexander Arnel’s 100th

Alexander Arnel of Page celebrated his 100th birthday on 2 April this year. I greatly enjoyed meeting Alex and his daughter recently and hearing some of his life’s history, including his escape from a plummeting RAAF aeroplane, his ten months as a POW in Stalag Luft III, and his survival of a midwinter death march. Following the war, Alex studied psychology and worked as a counselling psychologist at the University of Canberra.

I am deeply grateful for good men and women like Alexander who have built this nation and continue to build and strengthen our community. Today in the Assembly I shared Alexander’s story and congratulated him on a wonderful life filled with sacrifice, hard work, and being a great dad.

Click on the arrow button to read my speech.