Commemoration of the Centenary of the Roma Heroes’ Avenue

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning, and thank you most sincerely for the warm welcome you have extended to Kaye and me on this important day in the history of Roma.

I too acknowledge our special guests, joining us for what is our first official visit to Roma since I became Governor of Queensland in 2014.

This morning we have already enjoyed a briefing by Mayor Golder and his fellow councillors, and we look forward to meeting more community leaders during our time here.

Days like these are not only an excellent opportunity to recognise the countless contributions the regions make to the advancement and prosperity of our State; they are also incredibly helpful for us in gaining a better understanding of the challenges you are dealing with.

It is heartening to hear that, despite the drought that has plagued the region for so long, the people of Roma and the Maranoa stick together and remain firmly focused on the future.

They show what it means to be Queenslanders – standing united in the face of adversity, remaining optimistic, remaining resilient.

Queenslanders don’t give up easily – and they act accordingly.

And so, one hundred years and two days ago, on the 20th of September 1918, the people of Roma assembled at this very location to honour their sons who had fallen on a battlefield thousands of kilometres away from home.

These young men paid the ultimate price for their bravery, but their actions did not go unnoticed.

A bottle tree was planted for each fallen soldier, the symbol of a promise that ‘their lives would live on.

As long as Roma existed, they would never be forgotten’.

A century on, monuments like the Roma Heroes’ Avenue continue to remind us of the sacrifices our diggers have made so that we can live in freedom.

They displayed endurance, courage, mateship and many more values that have become deeply ingrained in our national consciousness.

They displayed what we all know as the Anzac spirit.

These men are heroes. And they are forever in our hearts.

Indeed, they have not been and will not be forgotten.

Their lives live on.

Ladies and gentlemen, Kaye and I thank you for allowing us the opportunity to be part of this proud moment – this is a centenary to celebrate!

I commend Maranoa Regional Council, the Roma Sub Branch of the Returned & Services League of Australia, and the community groups and many volunteers for keeping the Anzac spirit alive at this – the aptly named Roma Heroes’ Avenue.

Thank you.