Centenary Celebrations of Warwick War Memorial

Member for Southern Downs, Mr James Lister MP; Southern Downs Regional Council, Mayor, Councillor Vic Pennisi, CEO Mr Dave Burges and Councillors; RSL State President, Major General Stephen Day DSC AM; RSL Western Districts President, Mr Dennis Pollard and members of the Warwick RSL Subbranch; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I also acknowledge the Githabul people, the Traditional Owners of these lands, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people with us this morning.

Thank you, Mayor Pennisi, for your warm welcome and for the invitation to join you for this historic event.

When our young nation was called upon to stand beside the Mother County in war against Germany in August 1914, recruiting offices quickly opened around the country, including here in Warwick. Within three weeks, 37 volunteers from the Southern Downs had enlisted to join the Expeditionary Force.

A rousing civic send-off was given to those first volunteers with a procession, flags, bands, and a crowd of almost 2,000 patriotic citizens packed into the Town Hall to hear the speeches, and cheer as the Mayor presented each man with a souvenir notebook inscribed: “For Empire, Home and Beauty”, a line of verse that had inspired Australians just 15 years earlier when they joined the Boer War.

The patriotism that inspired that first cohort of volunteers was seen again the following year when the famous March of the Dungarees set off from outside Warwick’s Town Hall for a two-week trek to Brisbane. Although it was a Tuesday, flag-waving school children were in the excited crowd, businesses closed, and the town was brightly decorated to farewell the district’s 28 Dungarees.

A hundred more joined their ranks during the 270-kilometre march to Brisbane where they were met by crowds, cheering from every window and doorway, and the Governor at the time, Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams, visited the South Brisbane Swimming Baths to greet and congratulate the volunteers before their triumphal march down Queen Street.

There was such confidence, such optimism, such hope.

But as the brutal toll of the War to End All Wars rose, with no apparent end in sight, Australians began to assess the human cost of the commitment we had made as a young nation.

By the time the armistice was signed after four years of war, 324,000 individuals had served overseas and of these, over 60,000 – more than one in five – were killed, and 156,000 were wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner.

It was unimaginable, but out of that profound sense of loss and despair, grew a desire to honour both the fallen and those who had so bravely served their King and country. Here in Warwick, as soon as the euphoria of the victory celebrations had subsided in 1918, public fundraising began to erect a fitting monument. The result, a hundred years ago on this very day, was the unveiling of this splendid memorial to the 122 men of this district who died, and the 377 who served and returned.

On that occasion, it was another of my predecessors as Governor, Sir Matthew Nathan, who conducted the official unveiling. As he did, I pay my deepest respects and gratitude to those who have served our nation in war.

I also congratulate the many individuals and organisations who have made today’s centenary celebration such a success and thank all those who are committed to maintaining this important site.

Lest We Forget.