Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A landmark of international significance is now emerging in Queen's Park, Maryborough, in the electorate of Wide Bay, a $3.2 million Gallipoli to Armistice memorial funded by the federal and Queensland governments and the Fraser Coast Regional Council. It will tell the story of Maryborough's Duncan Chapman, the first man ashore at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, as well as other soldiers from the Maryborough district. The memorial takes visitors on a walk through the landing, with eight-metre-high vertical, weathered blades representing the cliffs of Gallipoli. The Western Front will be depicted on the way to the cenotaph and connected to a path commemorating the battle of Pozieres, where Duncan Chapman died.

Nancy Bates and her husband, Tony, have driven this visionary project. Nancy, who I acknowledge in the gallery today with her fellow committee members, Greig Bolderrow and Jason Scanes, a former Army captain and Afghanistan veteran. I thank the committee; their supporters and donors; my predecessor, Warren Truss; and the late Warren Persal for getting this project off the ground. We all look forward to the opening in July of this special memorial that will be a very solemn place for deep reflection to honour the service and sacrifice of Anzacs and all Defence personnel.