White crosses online tribute for Diggers after Logan Central RSL sub-branch folds
The war veteran community is in mourning after the closure of one of the largest and oldest RSL sub-branches in southeast Queensland. But a Logan historian has made his own online service tribute.
Logan
Don't miss out on the headlines from Logan. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The closure of one of the largest and oldest RSL sub-branches in southeast Queensland has left thousands of war veterans with no centrally organised Anzac Day service for the first time in more than 60 years.
NAIDOC WEEK STARTS WITH RARE INDIGENOUS WAR EXHIBIT
FALL OF SINGAPORE SPECIAL MURAL
The Logan and District sub-branch closed in October after dwindling membership and illness.
With no group to organise a service at Logan’s Civic Memorial Gardens, veterans gave the last rites to their citywide service and all plans were cancelled in November.
After many requests, the local Logan City Council stepped in and joined forces with members of the community and the Returned Soldiers League to bridge the void.
However, the coronavirus proved the final nail in the coffin for this year’s Logan Central service.
But Logan historian and archivist Mic Noble refused to let the annual Logan Anzac memorial service die.
Not even a stint in hospital in the past week could stop his plans to make sure the city’s veterans were remembered on Saturday.
Mr Noble said the loss of the sub-branch was even more poignant as his friend and war veteran Uncle Reg Knox was gravely ill in hospital ahead of ANZAC DAY
After the sub-branch closed, he started sifting through the club’s memorabilia and found a photograph of a plaque of the names of 300 Logan World War I veterans.
“With a little bit of research, I found the plaque had once been pride of place at Logan District RSL sub-branch but had disappeared,” he said.
“Logan Village Museum had a photo of the plaque and from that I transcribed some of the names on to 50 white crosses I made.”
Mr Noble spent three months making and naming the crosses, which will form a part of an art installation which will be photographed and put online as an official part of this year’s Logan ANZAC services.
Although coronavirus social distancing rules prohibit gatherings at the Civic Gardens at Wembley Rd, thousands of veterans across Logan will join in a national movement and stand for a minute’s silence in their driveways at dawn on Saturday.
Logan Central mum Christine Nuss and her son Robert, 8, built their own flagpole for the driveway dawn service on Saturday.
“As a person who marches every year knowing that services have been cancelled, this hit home hard,” Mrs Nuss said,
“Especially with my eldest son who is eight years old. He asked if we could show our respect and build a flagpole in the front yard to have the Australian flag flying at half mast.
“This made my heart break so we took this opportunity to rip up the front garden to build a new one with a flagpole.”
The Dawn service will be broadcast in Logan on the city’s community radio station 101FM.
Presenter Mal West will start broadcasting at 5am and will co-ordinate the Last Post to play at 6am along with an ANZAC DAY service.
Station manager Terry Blacker said he hoped everyone in Logan would tune in as a way to unite the whole city.
Dozens stranded as tide runs out on island barge
A misjudgment left a Moreton Bay island barge stuck in mud, sparking outrage among residents and reigniting debates over the islands’ transport strategy.
‘Revenue-raising weapon’: Hundreds of parking fines to be contested in class action
A Brisbane IT expert is preparing a class action against Redland City Council, alleging thousands of parking fines at ferry terminals were issued under questionable regulations.