Bundaberg Regional Council is supporting an Australian War Memorial effort to capture places of pride for a national archive.
Mayor Jack Dempsey said memorials, monuments and honour rolls are held in special affection by residents across the Bundaberg Region as community inspired tributes that recognise service and sacrifice.
“In every corner of the Bundaberg Region from communities large and small there are memorials bearing the names of the fallen, names synonymous with each community,” he said.
“With the approach of Anzac Day the importance of these memorials to the broader community gained heightened importance.”
Mayor Dempsey said the Australian Government, through the National Register of War Memorials, has asked communities across Australia to identify and document these sacred places.
“Places of Pride is an Australian War Memorial initiative to record the location and gather images of every publicly accessible memorial across Australia,” he said.
“RSL sub-branches, community organisations, schools, and individuals are encouraged to record and upload their local memorials to the dedicated website.
“Collecting these contributions, Places of Pride allows users to explore the memorials of Australia, including an interactive map and search facilities via postcode, suburb, and town – connecting individuals with community memorials, and commemorating those who have served our country.”
Places of honour
Mayor Dempsey said through the representations and advocacy of organisations like the RSL, local communities have engaged with Council to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of these permanent sites of tribute.
“We value these memorial sites which stand as reminders of the human cost of war,” he said.
“Our many memorials, spread from the hinterland regions of Childers, Booyal, South Kolan and Gin Gin to seaside and riverside locations like Bargara, Woodgate, Elliott Heads and Buxton share the message and the names of those who answered the call to service.”
Mayor Dempsey said Council was in the process of uploading images to the site, mindful that identified memorial locations should be accessible to the public.
“The call has gone out to the wider community to provide memorial images and this Anzac Day is an obvious day to collect these images.”
