Photo: Supplied.
CONTRIBUTED BY IAN ERRINGTON
During the Great War of 1914-18, more than 500 Riflemen who were members of the Queensland Rifle Association (QRA) made the supreme sacrifice to protect our freedom and way of life. These men came from the cities, towns and pastoral communities of Queensland. Sadly, many of their names were lost forever when the central Brisbane building housing the Honour Rolls was demolished in the 1970s.
As Australia prepared to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice, the QRA decided to establish at the Belmont Shooting Complex a new memorial honouring these 500 Riflemen. It was envisaged that this new memorial would also provide a commemorative site for use by people from the local communities to honour their families and friends and to educate the next generation of young Australians on aspects of our military history.
In addition to formal ceremonies, the memorial’s peaceful bushland setting allows for quiet contemplation. The site is guarded by a memorial gate and flanking walls. The memorial itself consists of a central stone, surrounded by 11 plinths, with a further two plinths on either side of the central memorial stone. Each plinth has been adopted by a shooting club or association to acknowledge the past sacrifices of their members in defence of the nation. A flagpole was erected next to the central memorial stone. The national flag flies constantly as a silent sentinel over the memorial and is illuminated at night. A manicured lawn area completes the solemn yet uplifting ambience of the memorial.
The Armistice Centenary War Memorial has been consecrated and accepted as a registered National Memorial.
The Remembrance Day service will commence at 10:30am, Monday, 11 November 2024, at the Belmont Shooting Complex at 1485 Old Cleveland Road, Belmont. Guests should be assembled by 10:15am. Seating is limited, so you may wish to bring a folding chair, and an umbrella and sunscreen.
After the service, you are invited to move to the QRA Café area, where refreshments will be served. The QRA Museum will be open for visitors. It has a significant historical collection of the contribution of Queenslanders to Australia’s war efforts.
