A division of the Liberal Party of Australia
BRANDON WAR MEMORIAL DEDICATION
23 September, 2006
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On behalf of the Australian Government and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Congratulations on bringing the Brandon War Memorial 2006 project to fruition.
Today we witness the unveiling of the memorial, a stunning bronze casting by sculptor Jane Hawkins, from the James Cook University.
Australia has a proud wartime history, built to a great extent on the contributions of the men and women from towns like Brandon – serving in our defence forces and contributing on the home front. Indeed, enlistments from small towns and regional areas often far exceeded what would normally be expected from their populations.
It is important that we preserve their memory and our history. We should all be proud of the Brandon Heritage Precinct Project and War Memorial. The memorial will serve to remind current and future generations that we owe an enormous debt to the men and women whose service and sacrifice secured our freedom.
When you gather on Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and other days of commemoration, you will stand before a part of our history – the original marble plinth with the names of local servicemen who died in the two World Wars, and the plaque marking the link to the 14th Battalion and Villers-Bretonneux. But you will also stand before evidence that you have not forgotten, and will continue to honour, those who served and died with the creation of this fine new sculpture.
Your project was a true ‘coming together’ of the local community. I acknowledge the commitment and hard work of all those involved, including Delta Iron Works, Burdekin Shire Council, Brandon Historical Precinct Steering Committee, Ayr Returned & Services League Sub-branch, Burdekin Machinery Preservationists and the Family History Association of North Queensland sho joined with the Commonwealth Government and Queensland Department of the Arts to complete the project. Thank you to all who contributed financially.
You can be proud of your efforts in producing a memorial that will inspire the whole of the Brandon community.