AUSTRALIANS REMEMBER THE 'FORGOTTEN WAR' ON KOREAN VETERANS' DAY
On July 27 we will commemorate the more than 17,000 Australians who fought in defence of South Korea during the first open conflict of the Cold War - the Korean War.
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The Korean War started on June 25, 1950 and despite still recovering from the impact of the Second World War, Australia was the second of 21 nations to commit troops, ships, aircraft and medical units in defence of South Korea.
For three years, one month and two days personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force served as part of the United Nations multinational force fighting with distinction in an unrelenting war of attrition.
More than 150 Australian nursing sisters served both in Korea and Japan, where they treated the wounded and sick. Some 1500 casualties were suffered during the war and post-Armistice period, which tragically included the deaths of more than 350 Australians.
An agreement for an Armistice was reached on July 19, 1953 between the UN and communist forces and the date for the signing was set for July 27, 1953. Australian forces remained in Korea until 1957 as part of a multi-nation peacekeeping force.
The Korean War is sometimes referred to the 'forgotten war', as it occurred between the large scale Second World War and the first war to be broadcast on television, the Vietnam War.
Each year on July 27 we remember all who served, and all who lost their lives and it is my hope that these men and women, and their families, know that they are not forgotten.
To all of Australia's Korean War veterans, we thank you for your service.
Lest we forget.
- Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester
QLD SHOULD CONSIDER WEARING FACE MASKS
Nope don't think so there is no cases in North West Queensland. Close the border to NSW as you can see the virus is starting to spread how Victoria was 2 weeks ago - Giannis Kirikos
Dah I've been saying it for 3 month when are we going to wake up? - Garry Osman
They should stop the southerners coming up here - Bruce Adams.
SOUTH KOREA SHOWS HOW TO MANAGE COVID-19
Countries around the world are living with the coronavirus, without it getting out of control. We should be able to do the same.South Korea is a good example.
An initial outbreak of more than 7000 cases in March and another in June of more than 200 cases have been brought under control. Despite it being densely populated, neither incident required extensive lockdowns.
Like Australia, South Korea has very good testing and contact tracing but it has more.One difference is mask-wearing. A second is a willingness to face the trade-off between individual privacy versus health/the economy.
South Korean health authorities have access to electronic records such as a mandatory QR code app that records the entry of every person into pubs, gyms, restaurants etc (beats our haphazard recording with pen and paper). They can find people who are infected and isolate them far quicker than Australia.
This has come with a surprising addition - a government approach to the coronavirus that is open and accountable, and fosters confidence.
In contrast, we are rightly sceptical about handing over our details when the lack of information and accountability makes us wonder what is being hidden and whether authorities have this under control.
By the way, the South Korean government was decisively re-elected in April.
- Tony Shields