Red Granite Column Memorial
THE ORIGINAL PROSERPINE WW1 TABLET HAD 19 NAMES ETCHED IN MARBLE. IT WAS UNVEILED BY MRS. SHEPHERD, THE WIFE OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SHIRE COUNCIL IN AUGUST 1919.
“I NOW UNVEIL THIS MEMORIAL TABLET TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE BRAVE VOLUNTEERS FROM PROSERPINE, WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE, AND HEREBY DECLARE THE MONUMENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND TRUST THE NAMES THEREON WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN”
IT WAS FIRSTLY LOCATED AT THE SHOWGROUND, THEN IN FRONT OF THE SUGAR MILL & FINALLY BESIDE THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE.
THE NEW CENOTAPH HAS AN ADDITIONAL 6 WW1 SOLDIERS NAMES.
WW1 DATA
LAY IN UNKNOWN GRAVES: 10
BORN IN PROSERPINE: 1
SERVED ON GALLIPOLI: 2
K.I.A. GALLIPOLI: 1
K.I.A. BELGIUM: 10
K.I.A. FRANCE: 12
DIED FROM ILLNESS: 2
CENOTAPH WW2 DATA:
ADDITIONAL NAMES: 15
BORN IN PROSERPINE: 23
SERVED WW1 & WW2 2
R.A.A.F.: 14
P.O.W.s: 15
LOST AT SEA: 4
DIED IN SOUTH PACIFIC REGION: 21
DIED IN MIDDLE EAST: 9
DIED IN ENGLAND/EUROPE: 6
DIED IN AUSTRALIA: 11
RATS OF TOBRUK 6
(INFORMATION SOURCED FROM “PROSERPINE ANSWERED THE CALL” by Lyn Burke & Lloyd Fox)
Today marked a momentous occasion as the new Proserpine Cenotaph was officially opened. The previous war memorial sat in the construction zone for the new Proserpine Entertainment Centre (PEC) which needed rebuilding after Cyclone Debbie. Albeit through unfortunate circumstances, the demolition and reconstruction of the PEC created the perfect opportunity to revamp the old, tired Cenotaph.
Mayor Andrew Willcox said, “Council worked alongside the Proserpine RSL Sub-branch to create a traditional design for the Cenotaph which would have a greater impact on the community and be more functional for commemorative ceremonies. “We wanted the new Cenotaph to be a memorial that our residents would be proud of,” he said. “The Cenotaph represents more than names; it is a tribute to the efforts and the hardship endured by our servicemen and women. Twenty-one new names, including two indigenous soldiers, were added to the list of those who lost their lives in battle,” Mayor Willcox said.
The new memorial was celebrated with an Official Dedication Ceremony led by Proserpine RSL Sub-branch President, Jason Raiteri. “The Cenotaph represents a headstone for all those Proserpine Servicemen who were killed during service and lay in cemeteries across Europe and the Pacific,” said Mr Raiteri. “It is a special place for many local families with relative’s names engraved on the Cenotaph. It also provides the Proserpine community with an appropriate gathering point for commemorative ceremonies,” he said. “The new Cenotaph will ensure that the names of all Proserpine’s fallen to date are forever displayed and their sacrifice will be remembered by future generations.”
The ceremony consisted of a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony which was led by Aunty Agnes of the Gia people, followed by a blessing from each of the local parishes and a wreath laying service conducted by the Proserpine RSL Sub-Branch.
The project was jointly funded by the Queensland Government under the Queensland Veterans’ Memorial Grants Program and the Commonwealth Government’s Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program.
Whitsunday Regional Council, 22 March 2022.
