Never fade the memories
THE memories of more than 500 fallen soldiers from the Great War were honoured yesterday at a ceremony marking the centenary of the first trees planted to commemorate them.
The 1.3km Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue, running from the Hobart aquatic centre to the soldiers’ oval at the Queens Domain, is planted with 535 cedar trees; each one representing a Tasmanian war hero.
John Wadsley, president of the Friends of Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue, said the significance of the day was to honour the efforts of those families who a century ago wanted to plant trees for their loved ones who died so far away.
We have so many families that are connected [to the project] and wish to continue the remembrance President of the Friends of Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue JOHN WADSLEY
“For me, I have a great uncle on the avenue, so it’s very important for our family. But we have so many families that are connected [to the project] and wish to continue the remembrance,” said Mr Wadsley.
A handful of the trees date to the first community planting in 1918, others to the subsequent five years of plantings, and the remaining trees are replacing ones that were removed or neglected.
The friends’ group undertook a 15-year project to restore the walk and locate family members.
“Eighty per cent of the men who served in the Great War were single,” Mr Wadsley said. “Many of the men on this avenue had no children, so we’re trying to find family connections.”
Brendan Nelson AO, director of the Australian War Memorial, said celebrating the centenary of the first plantings is a poignant way of recognising our past.
“In July 1916 in Pozieres, France, a dying Australian asked the official war correspondent of the day, ‘Will they remember me in Australia?’ And that question in death reflected a question that would have been on the mind of all these men.”
Importantly, the plaques reveal not just the names and of- ficial details of the soldiers, but also their individual stories.
Dr Nelson and Mr Wadsley joined the official party including Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania Alan Blow, Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie, and a representative of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community Brenda Hodge, in planting a tree during yesterday’s centenary commemoration.