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Coo-ee MarchPrint Page Print this page

Cooee Memorial Park Insc
Cooee Memorial Park Insc

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson / Peter F Williams / Roger Johnson

The bricked gateway with wooden arch commemorates the Cooee March from Gilgandra during World War One. 

Following the disaster of Gallipoli and the heavy casualties in France in the latter half of 1915, recruiting figures for enlistment in World War One had dwindled. Numerous recruiting rallies became increasingly ineffective. It was at this dark hour that Gilgandra's butcher, R.G. Hitchen and his brother Bill, the local plumber, had the idea of organising a route march of volunteers to Sydney, enlisting recruits as they marched.

Twenty five men left Gilgandra, a western town on the Castlereagh River. They were feted at each town on the route, and the stirring story of their march has become part of the official war history of Australia. Recruitment meetings were held in each centre and their number increased to 263 by the time they reached Sydney.

 

 

Location

Address:Newell Highway , Cooee March Memorial Park, Gilgandra, 2827
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -31.720698
Long: 148.656849
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Gate
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW1
Actual Event Start Date:10-October-1915
Actual Event End Date:12-December-1915
Link:http://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw…

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Monday 26th January, 1987
Front Inscription

Cooee March Memorial Park

This gateway is to commemorate the 25 Coo-ee volunteers who marched from Gilgandra on Sunday 10th October 1915.

[ Names ]

Capt. Nicholas Officer Commanding

Supplementary List

[ Names ]

Plaque :
Wellington District
31 Enlistments 
Presented by Wellington Sub Branch RSL

Plaque :
Springwood District
5 Enlistments

 

 

 

 

Right Side Inscription

Coo-ee March

On October 10th 1915, a recruiting march left Gilgandra calling at each town and village gathering volunteers. 

They marched into Sydney on 12th December as 277 recruits for the Army.

It was the original and most successful of nine such marches.

 

 

Inscription in Proximity

Cooee March Memorial Park

This park provided by Gilgandra Shire Council and developed by the service clubs and community organisations of Gilgandra was officially opened on  the 26th January 1987 by Councillor A. M. McGrane. Shire President, Gilgandra Shire Council. 

Source: MA,NRWM
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au