THE RIP
  • Home
  • News
  • What's on
  • Digital Editions
  • Directory
  • Real Estate
    • Featured Property
  • Gallery

Poppy tribute to remember our fallen

1/10/2020

0 Comments

 
PictureWar time nurse Violet Duddy its among the ex servicemen and women buried at Queenscliff Cemetery.
Poppies could be placed at the local graves of deceased service men and women on Remembrance Day, as part of tribute proposed by the Queenscliffe RSL. 

Spokesperson Graham Christie said the November 11 initiative would recognise the Queenscliff Cemetery as a key military site, and afford respect to the fallen within its grounds. 

Mr Christie is urging relatives to identify and nominate the graves of those who served, dating back more than a century, to ensure they are recognised with a poppy tribute.  

“The thought being, that should the national day be restricted under the COVID19 guidelines - in line with the ANZAC day and Vietnam Veterans Day services in 2020 - our RSL Sub-Branch could ceremoniously place a poppy at each of the historical military grave sites in this cemetery, as a tangible remembrance to all local heroes of the past,” Mr Christie said.

“These cared-for sites include many of our famous, including Violet Duddy, Sir Thomas and Dame Vera Deakin White… together with many Boer War fort soldiers [and] many other such heroes as Captain Colin Springall.”

As part of the initiative, poppies would be placed by relatives at graves in the week leading up to remembrance Day, allowing them to plan ahead. 

The tribute would remain in place permanently, and the graves would eventually be mapped by the Geelong Cemetery Trust.

“Our prestigious Avenue of Honour no longer displays the actual details of the soldier or nurse who were lost in war, died of wounds in the hospitals… and/or those who died on their return to their homeland,” Mr Christie said. “The grandeur of these Monterey Cypress trees remains but the identity of each of the fallen has been extinguished over time.

“It should be noted that many WW1 Queenscliff Lads who perished in the Great War are in the beautiful cemeteries of France and Belgium, but those who returned are most probably in this lovely garden area – but not known.

“A Poppy at each site would be rated a most popular activity by the entire Community.”

Raised in Queenscliff, Ms Duddy served on the frontline at Gallipoli. Her father was also Secretary of our First RSL Sub-Branch Committee in 1919.

Sir Thomas was a First World War pilot, prisoner or war and later Federal politician. Dame Vera, the daughter of Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, was appointed an Officer of the British Empire for her work with the Red Cross during the First World War, while Captain Springall manned pilot boats through Port Phillip Heads.
​

“I am asking that our community consider such a memorial process, that I believe would become quite remarkable… irrespective if we are even permitted to hold a normal commemorative service,” said Mr Christie. 

Relatives wanting to participate in the project can contact Mr Christie at:  
ryandale31@bigpond.com or by phoning 0418 521579.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    THE RIP NEWS BLOG

    Local news, sport and lifestyle stories. If you would like to submit a story please contact Carmel Christensen.

    Categories

    All
    Local Lifestyle
    Local News
    Local Sport

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

THERIP.COM.AU  
​news   |   events  |   lifestyle   |   Queenscliff   |   Point Lonsdale

"We would love you to share your stories,  tell us what you think about our new website  or perhaps you would  like to take advantage of our excellent advertising rates. Please note views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor.  

Contact us

The Editor:
Carmel Christensen 
51 Mercer St
Queenscliff VIC 3225

Ph: (03) 5258 4131
​Email:  catilm@bigpond.net.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RipRumour
Website design by Kylie Crane  © 2015
  • Home
  • News
  • What's on
  • Digital Editions
  • Directory
  • Real Estate
    • Featured Property
  • Gallery