Pleystowe Memorial AvenuePrint Page

The Pleystowe Memorial Avenue was established by the Pleystowe and District Patriotic and Welfare Committee. This committee was made up largely of wives and mothers who were members of a group called the Pleystowe Knitting Circle.

The committee was formed in 1943 from a public meeting at the Pleystowe School of Arts Hall and its main aims was to provide support and raise funds for servicemen from the Pleystowe district.

During World War Two, the committee provided food parcels for the servicemen from the area. On their return from the war, a small sum of cash was given to the servicemen to help them re-establish civilian life. At the end of the war, the committee decided to erect a memorial to those who died during World War Two. Any remaining funds were distributed among the returned servicemen.

The memorial project consisted of planting an avenue of trees along Eungella Road and labelling each one with a particular serviceman`s name. Nine trees were purchased in January 1948 and were dedicated on 25 April 1948. The original nameplates were timber. They were replaced by a white metal board with black lettering in a star picket at an undisclosed date. In 1996 these nameplates were replaced with black wooden framed plaques with white lettering which were fixed to the trees.

On Anzac afternoon at 3.30 p.m. a solemn dedication of trees and the unveiling of the district Honor Board took place at Pleystowe. A large assemblage was present. Mr. W. H. Lenahan, chairman of the Pleystowe Patriotic Committee, presided. The speaker observed that they had gathered together to pay homage to the gallant boys who had left their midst and had paid the supreme sacrifice. He eulogised the splendid work the committee (both patriotic and knitting circle) had done for the objectives. He called on Captain Walker (Salvation Army) to lead the service. After the opening hymn Captain Walker said on this day we recalled those who died at Gallipoli and other war centres.  Captain Walker then dedicated nine trees to the memory of the men who had died as a result of war service.

The trees were planted on the main highway and enclosed with a neatly painted fence. Mr. G. Roberts (a returned soldier of the Second World War) laid wreaths on every tree, and Pipe Major P. Gibson played the well known Scottish lament, "The flowers of the forest," whilst the people stood with bowed heads. Captain Walker then called upon Mr. F. D. Graham, MLA, to unveil an honor board dedicated to the men of Pleystowe district. Mr. M. Bowman, thanking the assemblage, said it was a historical day for Pleystowe. He said the board was a fitting memorial to the brave.
Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld),  29 April 1948.

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