Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown—Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault)— War is not only fought by personnel in the armed forces. From the conflict in Sudan in 1885, before Australia was federated, to recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, merchant seaman have been vital to Australia's military efforts.

During World War II, Newcastle and the Hunter region became the centre of Australia's industrial war effort. Vital cargo and essential minerals, steel, ship building material, coke and coal were all transported by ships from the port of Newcastle by the men of the Australian Merchant Navy.

On 3 June, I attended the Newcastle Merchant Navy Memorial service. It was a beautiful and solemn service, remembering those merchant mariners who lost their lives in conflicts from 1885 up to 2008.

My thanks to the Newcastle Merchant Navy Memorial, the local RSL sub-branches, the Western Lake Macquarie Concert Band, the Mission to Seafarers Newcastle, the Maritime Union of Australia Newcastle Branch, the cadets of TS Tobruk, and all those who made the service a success.

3,246 names are listed on the Commemorative Roll for the Merchant Navy at the Australian War Memorial, and it is important that we honour their contributions. Lest We Forget.

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!