Dignitaries, returned servicemen and the Proserpine community witnessed a momentous occasion as the new Proserpine Cenotaph was officially opened last Tuesday.
The old Cenotaph that previously sat in the construction zone for the new Proserpine Entertainment Centre (PEC) is now gone and in its place a revamped monument to those who lost their lives fighting for Australia.
The new memorial was celebrated with an Official Dedication Ceremony led by Proserpine RSL Sub-branch President, Jason Raiteri, and attended by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, as well as Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen.
Both the Premier and Mr Christensen spoke solemnly on the meaning of war to the town of Proserpine and its older generations.
Mayor Andrew Willcox said the Cenotaph was co-created by Council and the Proserpine RSL Sub-branch, creating a traditional design which would have a greater impact on the community and be more functional for commemorative ceremonies
“The Cenotaph represents more than names; it is a tribute to the efforts and the hardship endured by our servicemen and women,” Mayor Willcox said.
“We wanted the new Cenotaph to be a memorial that our residents would be proud of.”
Twenty-one new names, including two indigenous soldiers, were added to the list adorning the cenotaph – each of whom lost their lives in battle.
“The Cenotaph represents a headstone for all those Proserpine Servicemen who were killed during service and lay in cemeteries across Europe and the Pacific,” said Mr Raiteri
“It is a special place for many local families with relative’s names engraved on the Cenotaph. It also provides the Proserpine community with an appropriate gathering point for commemorative ceremonies,” he said.
“The new Cenotaph will ensure that the names of all Proserpine’s fallen to date are forever displayed and their sacrifice will be remembered by future generations.”
Many of the regions’ veterans placed wreaths at the feet of the new cenotaph in honour of fallen comrades
Veterans were out in droves to respectfully herald in the new and improved Cenotaph
