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New war memorial unveiled in Peak Crossing

THE new memorial which commemorates the names of Peak Crossing soldiers who have bravely fought in wars was unveiled on Remembrance Day.

PEAK Crossing residents turned out to witness the dedication of their first war memorial on Remembrance Day.

Peak Crossing Public Hall Association president Ron Smith said the memorial, recently completed, was made possible through a Queensland Anzac Centenary Grants program.

“Since 2018 marks the centenary of the signing of the Armistice to officially end hostilities in World War I, members of the local community felt it was an opportune time to put in place some permanent structure to honour the men and women from the Peak Crossing area, who have served their country and made significant sacrifices in the process,” Mr Smith said.

“While the honour roll in the Peak Crossing Hall bears the names of the personnel from the Peak Crossing area who served in World War I and II, this is normally not accessible to the general community.”

Mr Smith also said there was no acknowledgement of those who had served in subsequent conflicts.

At end of 2017, a committee was formed from members of the Peak Crossing Hall Association, Harrisville Lions Club, and local residents to move the memorial project ahead.

Scenic Rim Councillor Duncan McInnes said a Queensland government grant of $29,177 kickstarted the memorial.

“Competition for these grants was keen. Grant applications were of an extremely high calibre,” Mr McInnes said.

“This park is an ideal location for this memorial.”

Member for Scenic Rim Jon Krause said the memorial was also funded through community contributions.

“I was happy to be able to support that application and so glad it was successful. It is a tremendous memorial to those young men of this area who gave so much to the Great War,” Mr Krause said.

“This area gave so many of its young men.

“Men like Fassifern Winks whose father was Hector Winks and whose son sits here today.

“He was born on December 17, 1896, and he was a butcher. “Men like James Thomas Brown whose name is also on the memorial here today.

“He enlisted on January 24, 1916. He was a farmer who was 22 years old. He had no family of his own when he signed up.

“He enlisted at Enoggera and saw action in both France and Belgium, getting promoted three times between May and July 1917 in France.

“Brown was wounded in Belgium on October 30, 1917, and died of his wounds on November 8, 1917. And he was buried there, a long way from home.

“Today at this memorial, we will remember him and thousands like him, for who the Armistice did not come soon enough.”

Mr Krause congratulated all involved, from the fundraising to the designing of the memorial.

“Well done, you have given the sons of this area, who gave their all, a fitting place of remembrance,” he said.

“And I’m proud to be able to say that I was here today to be part of the dedication of that 100 years on.”

WELCOME

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2018-11-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

2018-11-28T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://qt.pressreader.com/article/281487867420412

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