OVER 100 people attended the official dedication of a new Memorial to commemorate the occupation of the 2nd A.I.F. in the Ravenshoe area during the WWII years.
The Memorial was recently unveiled and dedicated during the Ravenshoe RSL’s Military Muster weekend. It is dedicated to all the men and women who trained and rested in the Ravenshoe area before and between the battles against Japan, in the south west Pacific area, between 1942-1945.
Before the official ceremony commenced, Service and Ex-Service Personnel wearing their Campaign Medals formed up and paraded to the Memorial.
Mayor Rosa Lee Long, Councillor Shaaron Linwood and Queensland RSL Far Northern District President Alan Pickering were in attendance for the official ceremony.
Mr Mark (Bud) Palmer unveiled the memorial and dedicated it to the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (2nd A.I.F.).
Bud served in the 2/7th Field Coy, with the famous 9th Division where he saw active service in the Middle East, as a ‘Rat of Tobruk’ and at the Battle of El Alamein. After being wounded he was evacuated to Australia but then went on to rejoin his unit and serve in New Guinea, Borneo and Labuan.
Reverend Bill Woodland performed the Dedication and the St Barnabus Singers sang Kipling’s Recessional, (God of our Fathers), and God Bless Australia to the tune of Waltzing Matilda.
Also present at the ceremony was Michael Musemuci, Ravenshoe RSL Members and local community member Maurice Giddings who built and placed the basalt rocks and brass plaque for the Memorial which is located in the Ravenshoe Pony Club Grounds.
Ravenshoe RSL President Geoff Solly said the members and I are proud to be part of this Memorial and every year at the Ravenshoe Military Muster we will hold a Commemorative Service in honour of the men and women who trained here.
“Many of them went on to the battles in the Islands of the Pacific and some did not return,” Mr Solly said.
“We also wish to thank all the Exhibitors who put so much effort into the Muster, the Ravenshoe Pony Club for the use of their ground and the Tablelands Regional Council who kindly assist us with funding this event,” he said.
The Memorial was funded and built by the Ravenshoe RSL with assistance in the form of a donation of $500 from two Members of the Modern 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (RAR).
