Adjournment – Maryborough Military Aviation Museum Association – Speech in the House of Representatives 06/11/2025

Hansard 06/11/2025  House of Representatives

Mr LLEW O’BRIEN (Wide Bay) (16:50): I thank the volunteers of the Maryborough Military Aviation Museum Association, led by Jenny Elliott, who are preserving Maryborough’s wartime history.

Founded in 2016, the association showcases Maryborough Airport’s history as an RAAF air station and highlights the important role of the service men and women who were based there during World War II.

Between 1941 and 1944, thousands of wireless air gunners, navigators and members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force were stationed in Maryborough for training before their deployment. Destined to become crew members for Bomber Command, the air gunners were trained to send and receive Morse code messages and operate machine guns in a wide variety of aircraft.

The RAAF station at Maryborough Airport closed after the war, but, through the efforts of the Maryborough Military Aviation Museum Association, this vital part of the heritage city’s history is being preserved, and I’m always keen to support them.

This Saturday, the museum is holding a special commemorative service to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and to reflect on Maryborough’s contribution to Australia’s national security during the war. I wish them all the very best for their event.