Australian of the Year David Morrison urges Border to leave lasting legacy at Wodonga TAFE awards

The Australian of the Year told about 300 people at The Cube on Monday night it was “up to us” to stamp out domestic violence.

Speaking at Wodonga TAFE's celebration of achievement awards, General Morrison encouraged the crowd to leave a positive legacy for future generations.

The now-retired Lieutenant-General went "viral" with an electrifying message in 2013, ordering soldiers who could not commit to respecting women to "get out". 

The clip has been viewed on YouTube more than 1.7 million times and General Morrison used the stage in Wodonga to reiterate his message with White Ribbon Day on Friday.

“I think we can make so many contributions in the course of our lives, irrespective of the role we fill or the part we play in our societies,” he said.

“We get to give a gift to those who follow us.

“It can be around being more inclusive, being more respectful, creating a safe world for our sons and especially our daughters.

“Australia is the greatest country on earth and it’s because of the way those who have come before us have shaped the world we live in.

“We just need to make sure we recognise the opportunity that we get to do it for those who follow us.”

General Morrison also encouraged the crowd to welcome refugees into the country with open arms.

He highlighted twenty-one-year-old Sylva Mwala, who settled on the Border five months ago after more than a decade in a refugee camp in Malawi.

Mr Mwala, who works part-time at Urban Graze, is now a student at the TAFE with aspirations to become a social worker.

“We both saw that young man tonight, Sylva, who, I was told, couldn’t speak English six months ago after 13 years in a refugee camp,” General Morrison said.

“He stood on a stage in Wodonga telling his community what he is going to give to us. Doesn’t that just give so much affirmation as to why Australia is the greatest place on Earth?

“We are all beneficiaries of the society we’re part of.”