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1921
29 August 1921
Soldiers' Memorial.
SUGGESTIONS CONSIDERED.
PUBLIC MONUMENT DECIDED ON.
A meeting of the subscribers to the Mudgee Soldiers' Memorial was held in the Town Hall on Thursday evening, and was not well attended. There were only a few subscribers in attendance, including two ladies. The Mayor (Alderman Knight) presided.
The correspondence mostly dealt with estimates for a monument. Miss Lucy Cox wrote enclosing £5/5/, and Miss Kennedy enclosing £2/2/.
The secretary stated that various outside centres were holding meetings in reference to the memorial. The amount of money in the bank was £196/11/7, and with the money handed in that night the fund totalled £219/7/, whilst with promises the total was £530.
Ald. May (Mayor of Cudgegong) reported that a meeting had been held at McDonald's Creek, and that Mr. Frank Hughes and himself had been appointed delegates. He had to apologise for the absence of his co-delegate owing to illness, but who had sent along a couple of suggestions as to the form he would like the memorial to take. The first was that a soldiers' wing be built on to the Mudgee Hospital for the benefit of returned men who had to be admitted, or, failing that, that homes be built similar to the Cottage Homes.
Mr. Colless thought the decision should not be made that night as the meeting was so small. It was a disgrace to the town that more interest was not shown.
The chairman also complained of the lack of interest.
After discussion Dr. Nickoll moved that the meeting decide what form the memorial should take. He felt certain that if it was not decided that night the movement would lapse.
Mr. T. Austin, seconded, and the motion was carried.
After discussion it was decided that all the suggestions as to the form of the memorial be put before the meeting, and that a vote be taken.
Mr. May put the suggestions of Mr. F. Hughes.
Mr. M. W. Evans suggested that a maternity ward be built on to the Mudgee Hospital.
Mr. Leeson Prince suggested that an arch be erected at the entrance to Robertson Park, at the corner of Market and Perry Street, with the names of the fallen soldiers inscribed on it, and that a town clock be placed on the top.
Mr. Carmichael suggested a memorial hall, to be built in Mudgee. This would be a meeting place for the returned men, and the names of the fallen could be inscribed on the foundation stone.
Mr. Workman criticised the several suggestions. If the hospital maternity wing on the soldiers' hospital wing or cottages or a soldiers' hall were built there would be in later years the upkeep to be financed. Out of all the suggestions put forward he favored the one by Mr. Prince. But he would himself suggest that a monument be erected in some prominent place in the town, not a 'little pup' like the one that was erected at centenary time, but one as high as a telegraph pole, or even higher, one that would last for hundreds and hundreds of years, so that all the generations that came after could point to it and say, 'That was erected hundreds of years ago to the men who fell in the great war, and there is my great-great-great grandfather's name there.' There had been a lot of talk about the money not being subscribed. If they decided what the memorial was to be the money would come in. They raised £9000 on Australia Day, and they could do the same again now that the war was over. He hoped the meeting would favorably consider his suggestion.
Dr. Nickoll said Mr. Workman had put his views before the meeting in a very able and forcible manner. Like Mr. Workman he was in favor of a monument that would last for all time.
Mr. Hawkins favored a monument.
Mr. May was sorry that Mr. P. F. Hughes was not present to hear Mr. Workman's speech. With the consent of the chairman he would withdraw the suggestions he had put forward on Mr. Hughes' behalf.
The chairman gave his consent, and as there were no more suggestions, a vote was taken.
The maternity ward suggestion was the first put to the meeting. Mr. Evans was the only one to vote for it.
Mr. Prince's and Mr. Carmichael's propositions had the same fate, the proposers being the only ones to vote for their respective suggestions.
The suggestion put forward by Mr. Workman was carried almost unanimously.
Mr. Prince then moved that a monument be erected to the memory of the fallen soldiers, and that the designs and site be left in the hands of a committee.
This was seconded by Mr. Robinson, and carried.
Mr. Hawkins moved that Messrs. Prince, J. Edward Loneragan, M. W. Evans, Dr. Nickoll and the president and vice-president be a sub committee to select designs and site, and report to a general meeting.
This was seconded by Mr. Lovett, and carried.
A discussion took place as to the best means of raising funds.
Mr. Hawkins suggested that an art union be organised, but there was no decision come to.
The matter of publishing the names of the subscribers having been discussed, it was decided that a list of subscribers be published in the papers, and that another meeting be called a month hence1
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1925
27 April 1925
Mudgee Honors Her Dead.
Unveiling of Fallen Soldiers Memorial.
An Impressive Ceremony Rev. R. Robbins Appeals for Tolerance
The unveiling of the fallen Soldiers' Memorial in Robertson Park on Saturday afternoon last was the most impressive ceremony in Mudgee's history. A vast crowd assembled to honor the glorious dead - the men who offered up their lives that we might continue to enjoy the freedom which is the heritage of the British race. The addresses were inspiring, and conveyed a message which appealed deeply to the assemblage.
GENERAL MONASH'S TRIBUTE.
General Monash, who helped to make victory possible, pays a glowing tribute to the heroes who sacrificed all in the struggle for liberty, following, is his message:-
'A decade has passed since that glorious day when the young man hood of Australia accomplished on the cliffs of Gallipoli a feat of arms which should remain memorable so long as our race and languages endure. It was an achievement which became an inspiration of the A.I.F. throughout the war. It stands as a monument to stimulate our future manhood to patriotic endeavor and sacrifice.
'The Anzac Day celebration means preservation of that monument, and I believe that the men of the A.I.F., so long as any of them survive, should never allow that notable anniversary to pass unrespected.
''But what of the coming generation? Is a prohibition against telling our school children the story of Anzac, and what the day stands for, the right way to foster that spirit of civic duty, without which no nation can prosper? May the Diggers for many a year to come, combine to see that people do not forget, and when the last of them has passed to his rest, may the true spirit of Australia, carry on the glorious tradition of that sacred day.'
THE MONUMENT.
The monument is, according to those in a position to express an opinion, one of the finest in any country town in the State. The Rev T. McDougall, Mudgee, who recently passed through over fifty towns in Victoria and New South Wales, states that he saw nothing to equal it. When the movement was inaugurated some five years, there was a little difference of opinion as to how the money should be raised. Eventually, however, unanimity was reached, and all classes combined to make the final effort - a queen competition, the remarkable success it undoubtedly was. The Soldiers' Memorial Committee carried on a strenuous campaign. Members came and departed, but eight stalwarts, in the persons of Messrs. C. Knight (president), W. Carmichael (treasurer), W. Hawkins (secretary), E. T. Lovett, M. W. Evans, A. Colless, J. T. Cluff, and T. Robinson, battled through it all, and to them great credit is due. Of course they could not have achieved success without the support of the people of town and district, and it will forever stand to the credit of Mudgee that when the final appeal went forth the response was magnificent. Anslem Odling and Son constructed the monument, and the work of erection was faithfully carried out by Mr. T. Collier, of D. B. Acton and Co., Mudgee. The designing of the handsome paths and gardens surrounding the monument was the work of Mr. C. Knight, and reflects the highest credit on him. The flowers, plants, and lawns presented a decidedly pleasing spectacle, and evidenced careful and skilful attention by Gardener Bisby. A large number of superb wreaths were placed at the base of the memorial by friends and relatives of the departed heroes. The honor roll contains 94 names, and we understand that the list is practically complete. Following is the inscription-: - 'Erected to the memory of the brave men who gave their lives fighting for King and Country, 1914-19. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for others. Let those who came after see to it that their names be not forgotten.'
UNVEILING CEREMONY.
After the Mudgee Town Band had rendered "Boys of the Dardanelles" Ald. C. Knight, president of the Soldiers' Memorial Committee, said that they had been called together that day to unveil the Fallen Soldiers' Memorial, and to pay a tribute to the gallant men who had given up their lives for their country in order that those who came after them may live in freedom.
The Mudgee Salvation Army Band, combined choirs, and the assemblage then rendered the hymn, 'O God, Our Help in Ages Past.' Mr. W. Blackburn acted as conductor.
Mr. W. F. Dunn, M.L.A., said that it was only fitting that they should honor the brave young men who had stepped into the breach when the crisis came, and who had fought and died in defence of the rights and privileges of the race. He had been called upon to unveil several memorials in the Wammerawa electorate, and the one in Mudgee was amongst the best. He hoped that he would never be called upon again to officiate at a similar ceremony as they were performing that day. War was a curse and spread sorrow and grief in its wake. The women who parted with their sons and relatives suffered most of all in times of upheaval, and the suspense under which they labored while the dread carnage continued must have been awful indeed. The clergyman also had a sad and difficult task to perform, which had been carried out nobly and well. He was optimistic enough to believe that arbitration measures would eventually prevail, and that nations would settle their disputes without resorting to the brutal practices of war. He appealed to the Christian churches to lead the way in spreading the doctrine of peace, thereby making it impossible for wars to be waged, wars such as the one which had reduced the Mudgee district of the 94 stalwarts whose names appeared on the monument they were unveiling that day. In conclusion, he exposed his deepest sympathy for the many bereaved mothers, fathers, and other relatives, and hoped that their lives would eventually be happy in spite of the sad break in the domestic circle. Four mothers of deceased soldiers, then assisted in unveiling the memorial; and Mr. Stan Searle founded the 'Last Post.'
RELIGIOUS CEREMONY.
The Rev. T. McDougall, B.A.. read a passage from the fourth chapter of Joshua, which dealt appropriately with the erection of a memorial stone.
Canon Parr offered up an earnest prayer for those who had fallen so gloriously in battle, and under his direction the assemblage joined fervently in the Lord's Prayer.
The Rev. S. R. Robbins delivered the following impressive address: - I appreciate the honor of being invited to speak on the occasion of the unveiling of this Memorial, but realising the exceeding greatness of the sacrifice made by these men whom it commemorates, I feel it is impossible for me to pay a tribute that is worthy of them. Were I to take a text for this address it would be the words which you have graven upon this stone of remembrance, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for others.' There is a story in the Old Testament of an experience in the life of David. Besieged by the Philistines, he lay in a stronghold. Cut off from supplies, he and his men suffered from the agony of thirst. So overpowering did this agency become that the cry was forced from the soul of David: 'Oh, that one would give me to drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate!' That cry was no command, but it reached the ears of David's mighty men and roused them to action. Taking their lives in their hands they stole out through the besiegers, obtained the water, and returned and offered it to David. But David, says the sacred writer, despite the greatness of his thirst, 'would not drink of it, but poured if out unto the Lord.' Percy Ainsworth, commenting on this, says: 'As David lifted the drink he saw that it was red, red with the sacrifice of the men who risked their lives to get ?? unworthy of the greatness of the sacrifice when their adventure represented. Unworthy of to be refused to think it. It was too sacred a thing for man, so he ?? the Lord.' And as we today will but lift the mask that holds our draught of life, we, too, will see that it is stained red. It is red with the sacrifice of these men of Gallipoli and all their comrades who fought throughout the whole theatre of war. At tremendous cost they have preserved our heritage for us. The title deeds of the land holder, every document the professional man handles, the liberties we continue to enjoy, our plans and hopes for the future, all that has become ours, all we may yet hold them up to the light, and see the stain of red is upon them all. They are red with the blood of sacrifice! Well might we feel humbled, and ask ourselves: Are we worthy of the sacrifice of these men whoso memory we honor to-day? And, remember, this sacrifice was on a tremendous scale. It was a sacrifice made not only by those who will return no more, but by every soldier who went, for each man who went took his life in his hand when he offered himself a living sacrifice on the altar of his country's need. We have honored their memory in this beautiful and chaste memorial, but, remembering the words of him who said, 'This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me,' we are compelled to feel that there is only one memorial that is worthy and adequate. It is that we catch their spirit, the spirit of sacrifice and service - and in these days of peace, rise above the paltry and the selfish, and give ourselves to the service of our country that the heritage they have preserved for us may be enriched. To fail here is to make this memorial, which we have just unveiled the constant reminder of our own hypocrisy and unfaithfulness. There is another thing of which we need to remind ourselves. We are a company of Christian people. We have taken the words of Christ and graven them upon this stone, and we ought to feel that the compulsion is upon us to manifest something of His spirit. There should be no place among us for the barbarian with his gospel of hate. It may not be an easy thing to 'hold out the hand to the enemy against whom we fought, but few worthy things are easy. We are called not to easy things, but to things that are hard. Back of all the damn able devilry of war is the spirit of hate, and to cultivate that spirit is but to perpetuate the seeds of war. It may be a difficult thing to rise above the spirit of the barbarian. 'Love your enemies, pray for them that despitetully use you' is a hard doctrine, but to that Christ calls us. Captain Dunn referred to the horror of war, and expressed the hope that the day will come when nations will find another way of settling their differences, and he declared that the Church ought to do all in her power to so present Christianity as to hasten the coming of that day. To that I say hear, hear! It is one of the outstanding tasks before the church of to-day. I believe that the day will come when the expulsive power of a new spirit that makes for brotherhood and peace will destroy the instinct of the savage that still lingers in civilised peoples - that spirit of hate that makes for war. But that can come only as we -not only the church - put ourselves into the cause and work for it. We remember to-day the mighty enthusiasm and tremendous sacrifice which, in response to the call of the King, we out into the cause of war. In the face of the world's unrest and the growing complexity and difficulty of international relationships, there is another call that rings out very clearly to-day. It is the call of the Christ who, slowly but surely is winning you to the accentation of His ideal and to the cultivation of His spirit. Well might one writer declare That Christ was the most far-seeing statesman of all the sons ?? for we are being controlled to realise that His way is the way to peace. The cause tallies; but if we would but heed this call, and put ourselves into the cause of brotherhood and peace with something of that same passionate enthusiasm and service that we gave to cause of war, there will come the more quickly the day when the Prince of Peace having become regnant in the hearts of men, war shall be no more; and this dream of the poet shall be fufilled in fact.
These things shall be, A loftier race
Than e'er the world hath known shall rise,
'With flame of freedom in their souls
And light of knowledge in their eyes.
They shall be gentle, brave and strong
To spill no drop of blood, but dare
All that may plant man's lordship firm
On earth, and fire, and sea and air.
Nation with nation, land with land,
Unarmed shall live as comrades free;
In every heart and brain shall throb -
The pulse of one fraternity.
Commandant Murray, of the Salvation Army, prayed that God would comfort the bereaved ones.
The Salvation Army Band and choirs rendered 'Lead, Kindly Light.'
SPEAKERS PAY TRIBUTE TO ANZACS.
Mr. S. L. Gardner, M.H.R., for Robertson, after thanking the committee for the invitation to represent at such an impressive ceremony, apologised for the absence of Dr. Howse. V.C., Minister for Defence, and Major-Generals Ryrie and Cox, who were otherwise engaged. The sneaker conveyed to the mothers and soldiers his deepest sympathy and homage. He fully agreed with previous speakers that the scourge of war should be eliminated, and if the people of today only imbibed the spirit of the Anzacs, who knew no class or creed on the field of battle, and who refrained from all petty bickerings, the possibilities of a future call to arms would be minimised. If everyone showed a more tolerant spirit, and worked less for party and more for the common weal, the future would hold the brightest prospects. The flag under which they lived stood for justice and equal opportunities for all, and in the words of the great Abe Lincoln he hoped that 'Government by the people and for the people would never perish from the face of the earth.'
Mr. J. Workman, in the course of a brief address, paid his tribute to the honored dead, who had given their lives in a noble cause. He mourned with the bereaved mothers and fathers, and expressed the hope that the generations to come would pay homage to the boys who had fought and died so gallantly.
'God of Our Fathers' was impressively rendered by the band and choristers2
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