Caloundra Region in World War One & World War TwoPrint Page

Two bronze sculptures recognise the role that the Caloundra Region played during World War One and World War Two, in particular the use of Kings Beach as a parade ground during World War Two.

The sculptures show two World War Two personnel, a nurse attending and providing comfort to a wounded soldier on a stretcher, and a soldier on guard.  The sculptures represent all participants in the events of World War Two that occurred at Caloundra.

The detail of the rosary held by the wounded soldier is a reference from the book “Kokoda” by Peter Fitzsimons. He described a scene with a nurse treating a wounded service man named Joe Dawson who carried his fiancé’s rosary with him throughout his service.  The nurse in the scuplture is Faye Clarke, a local Caloundra veteran who served as a nurse in Australia, Borneo, and Papua New Guinea during World War Two.  In the year 2022, she is 103 years old and lives in a retirement village in Caloundra.

Raymond (Ray) Cook is the local Caloundra soldier as depicted as the “On Guard” sculpture. He served as a gunman on Bribie Island during World War Two, amongst many other posts throughout the war.

During World War Two, 30 units were stationed or deployed from Caloundra. All branches of the military were represented. However it mainly consisted of Australian infantry, armour, artillery and support troops. Red Cross nurses attended the sick and wounded soldiers at the hospital. This was located at Strathallan guesthouse, in Lower Gay Terrace, Caloundra.

Kings Beach also played an important role during World War Two and was the main parade ground for the military.

Location

Details

Dedication