November 10, 2018
Remembrance Day (November 11) falls on Sunday and this year also marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice – the end of World War I.
As usual, most towns in our region will be holding Remembrance Day services at 11:00am on Sunday to mark the moment the guns fell silent a century ago, putting an end to one of history’s greatest conflicts.
World War I remains the costliest war our nation has ever undertaken in terms of deaths and casualties.
From a population of fewer than five million in 1914, 416,809 Australians enlisted.
By the war’s end four years later, more than 60,000 of our troops had been killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.
Very few Australian towns saw out WWI without casualties in their communities; and very few families who had multiple children enlist saw them all return home safely.
The first Armistice Day was commemorated in 1919 to remember all the war’s dead.
It kept this name until the end of World War II when the Australian and British governments changed it to Remembrance Day to extend the commemoration to the casualties of all wars.
Here’s where our region’s Remembrance Day commemorations will be held:
| • Blackbutt: | A service will be held at the Blackbutt War Memorial at the corner of Coulson and Hart Streets from 10:45am sharp. This will be followed by a Lions community sausage sizzle at Blackbutt RSL from noon. | |
| • Yarraman: | A service will be held at the Yarraman Cenotaph on the D’Aguilar Highway at 11:00am (wreath-layers should arrive prior to 10:45am). | |
| • Nanango: | A service will be held at the Nanango War Memorial at the corner of Drayton and Henry Streets from 11:00am this morning (assembly is at 10:45am). Member for Maranoa David Littleproud will be this year’s special guest at the service, and there will also be a flyover by a replica World War I aeroplane. | |
| • Kingaroy: | Kingaroy’s Remembrance Day services will begin with a march. Marchers will gather at the former croquet club lawn in Memorial Park at 10:15am and then march the short distance to the catafalque for the 11:00am service. This year’s guest speaker will be former Kumbia resident Rear Admiral Brett Wolski, and a special guest will be long-serving Kingaroy-Wooroolin RSL Sub-Branch secretary Doug Farmer OAM. Afterwards, refreshments will be served at Kingaroy RSL. | |
| • Wondai: | A service will be held at the war memorial outside the Wondai Town Hall, starting with the dedication of the new memorial plaque at 10:40am, and then two minutes’ silence at 11:00am. This will be followed by fellowship at the Wondai Diggers Club in Mackenzie Street. | |
| • Murgon: | A service will be held at the Murgon War Memorial on the corner of Lamb and Gore Streets between 10:45am and 11:05am. The service will be preceded by a parade which will assemble in the RSL club’s car park at 10:15am before proceeding along Gore Street to the Cenotaph, and this will be followed by a light lunch in the RSL’s Diggers Room to which everyone is invited. | |
| • Cherbourg: | A service will be held at the Cherbourg War Memorial at 11:00am. A special feature of this year’s commemorations will be the official unveiling of a series of “Boys From Barambah” poles produced by well-known Cherbourg artist Rocko Langton to honour Indigenous troops who served in the nation’s armed forces from WWI onwards. | |
| • Goomeri: | A service will be held at the Goomeri Memorial Clock in the heart of town at 11:00am (attendees should arrive no later than 10:45am), and this will be followed by a sausage sizzle at Goomeri RSL’s rooms at the Hall Of Memory. | |
| • Kilkivan: | A flag-raising ceremony will be held at the RSL Memorial Park at 11:00am. | |
| • Boondooma: | A Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at Boondooma Homestead from 10:00am. |
There will also be several other Armistice-themed events held around the region on Saturday, November 10:
- On Saturday night, Tara’s Hall at Nanango RSL Club will step back in time with a semi-formal ball organised by the Nanango Citizens Auxiliary. Music will be provided by the seven-piece Swing Magic and a light supper will be available. Tickets for the evening are $35 and are available from the Reception Desk at Nanango RSL Club. The Armistice Ball is being sponsored by Heritage Community Branch, Nanango.
- In Kingaroy, the South Burnett Community Orchestra will be presenting a gala charity dinner concert at Kingaroy Town Hall on Saturday night. The event will include a three-course dinner and doors will open at 6:00pm. Tickets can be booked online or bought in person at Kingaroy Office Central in Haly Street, Kingaroy. Funds raised on the night will assist Legacy.
- Also on Saturday, Blackbutt will be holding a Country Fair in the area between Nukku Nook and the Blackbutt Memorial Hall at the end of Hart Street from 8:00am to 3:00pm, along with a street parade at 9:30am. This will be followed in the evening with an Armistice Centenary Ball at the Blackbutt Memorial Hall. Doors will open at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start and guests are encouraged to wear formal dress or 1918 period dress (medals are optional). Entertainment will be provided by the Cool Nights Big Band and there’ll be a hot and cold supper and licensed bar as well. Tickets are $47 per head and can be booked by phoning the Blackbutt RSL Sub-Branch on (07) 4163-0383, Trish on 0408-624-116 or Wally on 0499-896-515.
- External link: Origins Of Remembrance Day
