Parliamentary record : Part I debates (27 February 1990)
Debates for 5th Assembly 1987 - 1990; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 5th Assembly 1987 - 1990
1990-02-27
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
English
Debates
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Darwin
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Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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https://hdl.handle.net/10070/220388
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/699398
DEBATES - Tuesday 27 February 1990 needs to be some innovative thinking and cooperation by a large range of government agencies and organisations, both state and federal, because the time has come to acknowledge the situation and -to do something about it. In conclusion, I would like to place on record my disappointment that, so far, negligible funding has been made available to the Friends of the Telegraph Station and the Conservation Commission for the rehabilitation of the old Tennant Creek Telegraph Station. It is fair to say that people in Tennant Creek look around the Territory and see the millions of dollars that are bei ng squandered on vari ous projects. They note the fundi ng that is made ava il ab 1 e for beaut ifi cat i on and yet, when they seek some fundi ng for restoration work on a very important project such as the old Telegraph Station, they are confronted by brick wall. I would like to point out to the minister that the matter will become a fairly lively one over the days ahead and, if he could find his way clear to release some money for the work that needs to be done there, that would be greatly appreciated. Of course, if the funds are tight, we will have to make plans as best we can. Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH (Koolpinyah): Mr Speaker, I rise to draw to honourable members' attention the passing of a very fine and brave man. Not only was he a fine and brave man, he was also unique, not only in the Northern Territory but in Australia. I refer to the late Mr Frank Scott Tassicker who was a resident of the rural area for some years. He lived in the Howard Springs area with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr and Mrs McManus. Mr Tassicker was born in March 1895 and he joined the first AIF. He 1 ied about hi s age and he joined when he was only 20. In those days, one could not join up legally until one was 21. I think he showed the spirit of his time as a young man. He was very patriotic in putting forward his age. He saw his responsibility to his country and he wanted to do his bit. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces on 18 May 1915, and was posted to the 7th Reinforcements of the 11th Battalion. He embarked for overseas on 9 June 1915. My information comes from the Central Army Records Office, Victoria. He transferred then to the 28th Battalion, but there is no date recorded for this. He embarked for Gallipoli on 4 September 1915 and landed the same day at the Dardenelles. It was my pleasure to have met Mr Frank Tassicker on a number of occasions, especially at the Anzac Day services in the rural area where he was the guest of honour for a number of years. At the Dardenelles in 1915, the 28th Battalion provided reinforcements for the forces already fighting there. At Gall ipoli, Mr Tassicker was wounded several times. He returned to Egypt on 10 January 1916. He disembarked in France on 21 March 1916 and, in 1917, he was appointed a lance corporal. He returned to Australia in April 1919 and he was discharged on 5 September 1919. He married in 1922 and his wife, Polly, predeceased him. He had 4 children. This gentleman was awarded several medals. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and, more unique than any of these, the ANZAC Commemorative Medallion. It would have been lovely if he could have accompanied other veterans to the Commemorative Ceremonies to be held at Gallipoli this year. Unfortunately, his passing prevents that. Not only did Mr Tassicker enlist in the 1st AIF in World War I, but he re-enlisted on 31 May 1940, this time with the 2nd AIF, and was posted to the 2nd 7th Field Ambulance Division as an ambulance carrier. He embarked for overseas from Fremantle on 20 September 1940 and disembarked in Palestine on 13 October 1940. He embarked for service in Greece on 27 March 1941. It was in Greece that he won the Military Medal for Bravery 8867