A significant milestone will be seen on April 9 with the unveiling of the latest upgrade to the Stanthorpe War Memorial site in Weeroona Park.
The Stanthorpe RSL Sub Branch has invited Southern Downs MP James Lister to officially unveil their “Commemoration Project," an initiative also aligned with Southern Downs Regional Council and funded by the “Remember their Service” Grant from the Dept of Veterans’ Affairs.
Two new memorials will also be unveiled - the first by the Queensland RSL State President, Major General Stephen Day DSC AM, accompanied by Matthew Patterson, an Afghanistan veteran. The second memorial in the spotlight will be unveiled by the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Peacekeepers and Peacemaker Veterans Association, Rod Henderson, accompanied by East Timor veteran, Mrs Belinda Lister.
Mr Henderson dedicated 22 years from 1995, as an enlisted solider in the Australian army, initially as a paratrooper in the infantry and then as a crewman aboard Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters. The Stanthorpe visitor confirmed that his service has also included deployment to East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
After a "medical separation" in 2017, Mr Henderson has dedicated time at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, where he resides with his wife and three sons, continuing his "commitment to the veteran community".
Stanthorpe RSL Sub Branch President, Martin Corbett told our newspaper that the presence of such visitors and locals, to witness the official unveiling of the relocation of the refurbished Turkish Gun to the War Memorial site, will be a sign of their "return to the Stanthorpe community".
Mr Corbett said he is looking forward to the community and visitors appreciating the newly constructed wheelchair ramp to the War Memorial, as well.
The ceremony will commence at 11.30am on Wednesday, April 9 at the War Memorial site.
