George Ward Memorial CircuitPrint Page 
The George Ward Memorial Circuit commemorates the sixteen men who braved the flood waters of the Nogoa River to rescue two well borers, William Laughlin and Albert Bettridge who were thought to be trapped by rising flood waters in November 1950.
One of the men involved in the rescue was George Ward, who was washed away and drowned.
Nogoa River Flood Rescues 1950Location
| Address: | Rifle Range Road, Botanical Gardens, Emerald, 4720 |
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| State: | QLD |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -23.536606 Long: 148.164767 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Walkway |
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| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Flood |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 27-November-1950 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 28-November-1950 |
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| Artist: | |
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Dedication
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: |
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George Ward Memorial Circuit
This circuit is a memorial to the sixteen men who braved the flood waters of the Nogoa River to rescue two well borers, William Laughlin and Albert Bettridge who were thought to be marooned in low country by rising flood waters on the 27th November 1950.
A steel rowing boat with eight men on board was launched into the river in an attempt to reach the stranded men. All went well until the boat capsized in the raging waters of the main steam and the crew climbed onto a tree. When their position became precarious they decided to swim to shore.
The next day another boat set out with a new crew to rescue the men from the boat. They successfully located the men on the island and returned them to safety. They then went looking for the other two men and eventually found them, but not before the boat capsized resulting in George Ward being washed away and drowned.
The remaining rescuers spent the night in trees. The men were rescued the following day when a motor boat was hired in Rockhampton and brought to Emerald by train.
The men involved in these dramatic rescue efforts were
Horace Alfred Smith Robert Crawford
Thomas Collin Capell Vincent John Douglas
William Michael D. Hickey William Lamb Watson
Thomas Donald Moriarty Robert John Johnstone
Dudley Robert Mylne John James Paris
William Leslie Wright Walter John Osborne
Alfred M. Pill Kevin Joseph Osborne
George Albert Pill George Ward
Surviving members were awarded bronze medals and certificates from the Royal Humane Society of Australasia.
George Ward's family was also awarded a certificate.
