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July 20, 2016
Colinton’s War Memorial has been listed on Queensland’s Heritage Register for being the first memorial built outside a cemetery to commemorate WWI soldiers.
The war memorial was listed on July 15 by the Heritage Council.
It was designed and sculpted by monumental mason Frank Williams, the nephew of Robert Williams of Stonehouse, near Moore.
Mr Williams later went on to produce the Toogoolawah War Memorial, as well as the extraordinary “Weeping Mother” memorial at Gatton that was “an expression of sympathy with the mothers of fallen soldiers”.
In November 2015, the Toogoolawah RSL held a service at the Colinton War Memorial prior to the launch of a book by author and historian Elizabeth DeLacy about the soldiers recorded on the monument.
This service was well attended and included songs written specially for the occasion.
Three Light Horsemen also attended, along with Somerset Regional Council’s Deputy Mayor and the Member for Blair, who recommended the grant that funded the publication of Elizabeth’s book.
Recently a monograph about the difficulties in reclaiming huge selections like Colinton for closer settlement has also been produced.
Nestle’s purchase of the Standard Diary Company at Colinton in 1919 and the demise of the town since then are also explored.
Since November, Elizabeth has received more family photos and details about the soldiers on the monument.
The Toogoolawah RSL has also purchased an evocative painting of a stockman from Eskdale, John (Jack) Maloney, who enlisted in Brisbane to fight in WWI and later returned.
The painting was created by well-known South Burnett artist Lyn Felsman, and Jack Maloney’s story – in war and peace – would define the term ‘true grit’ for most people.
His complete story will be available at Toogoolawah RSL in the near future, and a synopsis of it currently accompanies the painting.
Elizabeth told southburnett.com.au she is very grateful to South Burnett readers who have supported her efforts, and the efforts of Toogoolawah RSL, to commemorate the verifiable and often sad history of the region’s contribution to WWI.
Anyone else who can contribute more knowledge about the Colinton War Memorial, the people listed on it or the history of the former town and the area around it is very welcome to contact her by email.
