TATURA RSL are in the process of arranging further plaques in the Robert Mactier Memorial Garden, to commemorate local people who have fought overseas.
Mal Watts, head of Tatura RSL projects committee, says there are already more than 1,000 names on display in the gardens, which commemorate locals who fought in the Boer War, the first and second World Wars, and Vietnam.
Of those names, around 600 served during World War II, at a time when Tatura had a population of around 2,000. Filled with familiar family names, the Robert Mactier Memorial Garden is a place for reflection and celebration of local legends and sacrifice.
“We would like to extend the memorial to recognise veterans who served in more recent conflicts and in peacekeeping and peacemaking missions,” said Mal.
“It can be hard to catch everyone, but we’d like to find as many local residents as possible who fought overseas to complete the memorial display.”
The additional plaques will honour younger local veterans, as well as anyone who has participated in Australia’s modern defence operations.
Specifically, Tatura RSL are seeking veterans who were born in Tatura and District, or settled there, and participated in Indonesian conflicts from 1963 to 1966, peacemaking and/or peacekeeping missions since 1947 to present, or in any other overseas conflicts from 1990 to current time, such as Iraq, East Timor, Afghanistan, Solomon Islands, Rwanda, Somalia and Syria.
If this is you, someone in your family or someone you may know, please contact Rob Mathieson (0439 352 502) or Mark Sommers (0407 297 474) before Wednesday, August 31 to share details.
Information must be verified before the plaques can be arranged. Tatura RSL hope to unveil the final stage of the memorial on Remembrance Day.
