Armidale War Memorial Library

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Armidale War Memorial Library (Proof)
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Speakers - Torbay Mr Richard
Business - Private Members Statements, PRIV

ARMIDALE WAR MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Page: 7


Mr RICHARD TORBAY (Northern Tablelands) [1.37 p.m.]: Today I call on the Government to support a new war memorial library for Armidale and the wider community via the New South Wales program of events for the Centenary of Anzac. Libraries play an extremely important role in communities, especially those in regional, rural and remote New South Wales, offering a wide range of facilities and services to members of the community of all ages and cultural backgrounds. Libraries also are invaluable to the development of a child's education, and to the growth of knowledge and human capital. Free access not only is provided to library resources, but also modem technology enables the community to access information from around the world via the Internet. These services are particularly important in the Northern Tablelands, which is the third-largest electorate in New South Wales and has 10 libraries that provide services across 44,600 square kilometres.

The Armidale Dumaresq Council War Memorial Library was established in 1949 following community support and donations. The library is designated as a war memorial honouring, of course, the immeasurable contributions of the service men and women of the community. Armidale has served this nation continuously in some defence capacity since 1885, through the establishment of Light Horse militia units, which carry the guidon military banner—battle honours of the 12th Light Horse Regiment, which rode in the charge at Beersheba, and the 33rd Battalion formed in Armidale during the First World War. HMAS Armidale was also named after a town immensely committed to the service of its country. The Bathurst-class minesweeper, launched in 1942, served in Darwin, the Pacific and New Guinea and with the current day 12/16th Hunter River Lancers. The University of New England has also had a university regiment since it commenced in 1954.

The ties between the Anzacs and the Armidale region are strong, and this strong Anzac spirit within the community can be captured by a new memorial library—particularly as the community is in desperate need of a new library. The Armidale library uses what can best be described as a rabbit warren of buildings, some of which are well over 100 years old. It does not meet the standard of a twenty-first century library, nor does it meet the standards of the other libraries across my electorate. Guyra is the latest community in my electorate to receive an upgraded library. I praise Guyra Shire Council for its acknowledgement of the importance of libraries, and its commitment to enhancing the services available to the good residents of Guyra. I will have the pleasure of attending the official opening of the new Guyra Shire Council library on 2 November, something I am very much looking forward to.

However, Armidale remains left behind by comparison. New South Wales public library statistics indicate that the Armidale library is one of the most intensively used libraries in New South Wales. In 2009-2010, 129,917 people visited the library, with 310,870 total items in circulation. It has the fourth-highest number of loans per capita in all of New South Wales, the highest in regional, rural and remote New South Wales, and the second-highest circulation per staff member of all public libraries in New South Wales. With over 10,000 hours of public internet usage, the library services a diverse, large, and ever-increasing community comprised of people from all walks of life, including, of course, students from the University of New England.

As indicated to the New South Wales Centenary of Anzac Commemoration Committee in May, there is substantial need to create memorials. Those memorials should not only be visible and lasting but also advance the wellbeing of the community. The centenary of the First World War is a significant milestone in the history of New South Wales and Australia. The Anzac centenary program aims to create a contemporary and respectful commemoration of this legacy. The New South Wales committee submission to the National Commission on the Commemoration of the Anzac Centenary is based on commemorative and historical, civic, educational, community and cultural activities and initiatives. A new Armidale library will appropriately represent the significance of Anzac. It will commemorate the centenary and the sacrifice of the servicemen and women, facilitate the growth of education and awareness, and will be a community landmark for the centenary of the First World War. This proposal has community-wide support, not only from the Armidale Dumaresq Shire Council and the ex-service organisations, but across the entire community. I commend this proposal to the House.