Council backs historians
Centenary Wall may be built to commemorate service to country TOOWOOMBA Regional Council said the council was working Mothers’ Memorial. normal process. Mayor Paul Antonio has assured closely with a range of “The intent of the wall is to The RSL is undertaking researchers delving into stakeholders for the Mothers’ ‘commemorate the service of all research and is considering having Toowoomba’s wartime history that Memorial Gardens to progress a men and women of the armed a corrected Roll of Honour at the they have council’s support and master plan for the site situated off forces and their families who have RSL itself and is also considering encouragement. Margaret St. in the past 100 years upheld the options in relation to the Mothers’
A small group of dedicated The proposed masterplan could highest tradition of serving Memorial. researchers have uncovered errors include the provision of a new Australia and who continue to “Issues relating to name and omissions on the Mothers’ Centenary Wall incorporating serve into the future’.” changes at the Mothers’ Memorial Memorial and the Soldiers’ plaques and names of the fallen. Stakeholders involved in are always referred to the RSL for Memorial Hall rolls of honour and This year marks the centenary discussions include Toowoomba review by both the local branch have called for more names to be of the start of the First World War. United RSL, National Servicemen’s and Commonwealth of Australia added and the errors fixed. Records Office.
Researchers using modern “The council may assist with the technology and ready public inscription of names on the availability of wartime records Mothers’ Memorial pending advice have identified up to an additional and direction from the RSL.” 42 names of First World War Cr Antonio said the Mothers’ service personnel who fitted Memorial Gardens was a place for eligibility criteria to be included on reflection within a much-loved the Mothers’ Memorial. There are garden setting. 10 to 12 names from the Second “TRC, in association with World War who could also be stakeholders, will continue to eligible to be included on the support and encourage memorial. appropriate commemoration of
The group is led by First World wartime service personnel and War researcher Greg Lamerton, manage and maintain the Second World War researcher Ed parklands.” Habben, RSL librarian Penny He said in addition council was Hancock with assistance and also working with historian Ed support also being given by the Habben and the RSL to secure historical society’s Peter Cullen funding for printing an honour roll and Maurice French. acknowledging those from
Cr Antonio, in response to Toowoomba who lost their lives in questions put by The Chronicle, the Second World War.
The Mothers’ Memorial Gardens is a place for reflection within a much-loved garden setting.
Cr Antonio said council had allocated funding of $40,000 to progress master planning and enhancement works to various areas within the gardens in the 2013/2014 budget.
“The proposed development of the Centenary Wall is being considered and, in association with the service men and women of Toowoomba, TRC has lodged a funding application to the Federal Government seeking grant funding to erect a Centenary Wall at the Association, Darling Downs Sub-Section Naval Association of Australia, Vietnam Veterans Association Toowoomba South-West District, and the RAAF Association.
Cr Antonio said issues relating to updating Rolls of Honour were referred to the RSL.
He said council was yet to receive a list of missing names from the RSL, but would progress any request for additional inscriptions in line with the