2015 Victorian Aboriginal Rememberance Service
Sunday 31st May at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne, has been set aside as a day to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women who served in the armed forces of Australia. Over 800 Indigenous service personnel volunteered to serve during WW1 and more than 3000 in WW11. Those service men and women volunteered their service despite not being recognised as Australian citizens. This recognition did not occur until the 1967 referendum.
It was through the tireless effort of Aunty Dot Peters to honour her father's service and memory that the first service was initiated over 10 years ago. Since then other states have established similar commemorative services to honour their Indigenous personnel. The Indigenous Remembrance Services have now become an annual event.
Members of the Franklin family enlisted to serve their country during WW1. They were Albert Franklin, Walter Franklin and Leslie Franklin. Later in WW11, Norman Franklin served in PNG.
Albert Franklin served overseas
Walter Franklin served in France
Leslie Franklin served in France