Plans are underway for a memorial plaque to honour the four Australian Defence Force members who lost their lives in the MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crash during Exercise Talisman Sabre.
The aircraft, carrying four members of the Sixth Aviation Regiment based in Sydney—Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Captain Daniel Lyon, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs crashed in the Whitsundays on July 28 2023.
A group of ex-servicemen, from Operation Pilgrimage Group is leading the initiative to create a plaque in their honour. The proposed site is near the existing memorial for the missing midshipmen, opposite the police station — a location already familiar to both locals and visitors.
Organisers stress the project is not about fundraising but recognition. “We’re not raising money, we’re wanting to acknowledge their life and their service,” said Allan Miles OAM, CEO of Operation Pilgrimage Group.
“Their lives were cut short, and this plaque is about ensuring they are remembered.”
A planning team has already been formed, with Defence and historical advisers providing guidance. Work will follow a set schedule, moving backwards from the intended unveiling to ensure everything is in place.
The unveiling is hoped to align with either Anzac Day or the anniversary of the crash, providing a fitting occasion for the tribute.
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