Revamp enhances RSL club’s presentation of war history
COUNTRY charm and historical insight is what Gold Coasters can expect when visiting the revamped Canungra Services Club, which is undergoing a facelift.
The Nerang RSL is working closely with the Canungra RSL sub-branch, in conjunction with the curator at the Museum of Australian Military Intelligence at the Canungra Army Barracks to rejuvenate the clubhouse and its war memorial display.
President of the Canungra RSL sub-branch Keith Cogzell said the club was the focal point of the community and had served as a meeting place for veterans and ex-service personnel for more than 50 years.
“Canungra has a strong military history so we are also placing more importance on the memorabilia display, with emphasis on education and more tributes to those in our region who served,” Mr Cogzell said. “We have engaged the services of David Parker who was the curator at the museum at the Canungra Army Barracks to help us record, conserve, store and integrate pieces of history into the clubhouse in a professional and meaningful way.”
Mr Parker, who is a member of the Canungra RSL subbranch, served in the infantry and in intelligence with the Australian Army and has been involved with the museum at the Kokoda Barracks for more than 16 years, where he now volunteers his time.
The theme of the current display – which is being curated in line with the upgrade to the clubhouse – is World War I, with many of the items on display coming from Mr Parker’s personal collection.
“We have memorabilia, service medals and militaria from World War I and II, and even an original peace medallion, which was given to every child under the age of 14 back in 1919, to commemorate the end of the first world war,” Mr Parker said
“We have a book written by Owen Wildman – Queenslanders Who Fought in the Great War – and published in 1919, on display with World War I recruitment posters hanging on the walls.
“We plan to rotate the displays annually to keep it fresh and interesting for the locals,” he said.