{"id":104466,"date":"2015-04-27T19:34:20","date_gmt":"2015-04-27T09:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=104466"},"modified":"2020-12-21T13:13:00","modified_gmt":"2020-12-21T03:13:00","slug":"every-man-and-woman-remembered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/04\/27\/every-man-and-woman-remembered\/","title":{"rendered":"Every Man – And Woman – Remembered"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nanango historian Liz Caffery with Daun Clapperton and Robyn Peterson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 27, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tara’s Hall at Nanango was packed on Anzac Day Eve for the official launch of the South Burnett’s new online database of the region’s World War I veterans.<\/p>\n

The “Every Man Remembered – South Burnett Heroes” project was put together by Nanango researchers, Visitor Information Centre volunteers and “super sleuths” Daun Clapperton and Robyn Peterson.<\/p>\n

They began six years ago with a plan just to research Nanango war veterans.<\/p>\n

“We saw the need to document the military men of Nanango who served in World War I,” Daun said.<\/p>\n

But then along came then-Mayor David Carter who suggested it would be nice if it included the whole South Burnett.<\/p>\n

“And they agreed,” Cr Barry Green said.<\/p>\n

There are now 1268 names on the database, but it is guaranteed that will not be the final number, with new names and details being discovered all the time.<\/p>\n

“Daun and Robyn thought they had everyone until last Tuesday when they discovered Cherbourg had found another 17 people,” Cr Green said.<\/p>\n

“So they had to put them in quickly before tonight.”<\/p>\n

The fact that the information has been assembled in a database means it is easy to amend or update, add photos etc.<\/p>\n

Also included are details of any medals that the South Burnett veterans have won.<\/p>\n

“There are 54 medals … including one VC, an impressive achievement for a small community,” Daun said.<\/p>\n

The project was recognised by a 2014 National Trust Heritage award and Cr Green said he was cranky the pair had missed out on winning a South Burnett Australia Day award\u00a0 for all their hard work.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I’m not seeking re-election so I can be as controversial as I like,” Cr Green joked.<\/p>\n

“What these girls have done is absolutely fantastic.”<\/p>\n

Cr Green and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington officially launched the database<\/a><\/strong>, which is an extension to the South Burnett Regional Council website.<\/p>\n

Paintings by Judith Goodman of Anzac Cove and the soldier statue at Blackbutt Cemetery were presented to Daun and Robyn for all their hard work.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/b><\/h2>\n

Friday night’s ceremony also included an explanation by Andrea McKenzie of the 5000 Poppy<\/a> project.<\/strong><\/p>\n

More than 5000 poppies were crocheted, knitted, felted or sewn in South Burnett towns, and just under 1300 were sent down to Melbourne to represent South Burnett World War I enlistments in a huge display in Federation Square.<\/p>\n

Amongst the poppies were some purple ones, to represent the animals that also served – horses, donkeys, camels, dogs and pigeons.<\/p>\n

A large display of the hand-made poppies was on stage in Tara’s Hall.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Historian Liz Caffery also presented a Nanango version of her World War I powerpoint display.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first Nanango soldier to die at Gallipoli was Norman Rushforth who was killed on April 26, 1915, at Gallipoli.<\/p>\n

Liz said more than 200 South Burnett men did not return from the Great War.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The evening also included a performance by Brisbane singer Tony Foran of his Anzac tribute “100 Years On”,\u00a0 and “Hymn To Anzac” by the Blackbutt Singers.<\/strong><\/p>\n