ANZAC 100 - a new coming of age

Mrs Barb Thomas, Fr Robert O’Bryan, Ms Melissa Price MP. This World War 1 Memorial located in the grounds of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church Mullewa was designed and built by the Priest/Architect Mons John Hawes in 1928 during his tenure as priest in Mullewa. During the 1914-18 conflict, 74 from Mullewa enlisted. The restoration of the Memorial, which features a lone pine, was undertaken with Federal funding support and completed in time for ANZAC day 2015.

“ANZAC day, dare I say, outshone Australia Day – the Government, the communities, the RSL and many organizations have been privileged to work together to lift ANZAC to a new level of awareness and appreciation,” Melissa Price, Federal Member for Durack said.

“I attended five ANZAC events in Durack - at the coastal communities of Kalbarri, Cervantes and Jurien Bay.

“I also went to Yuna and Mullewa where Father O’Bryan rededicated the World War 1 Memorial which has been restored with the support of an ANZAC centenary grant.

“It was with pride and in deep reflection that school children, volunteers and community members produced sensitive and unique events that highlighted the meaning of ANZAC to them … personal stories, mementos, great grandfathers long gone, letters from the war, mothers left waiting …

“ANZAC touched and still touches the lives of almost every family in Australia. This year confirmed to me that ANZAC is firmly embedded as a day of national pride. It unites us as one, as Australians.

“For those who attended ANZAC for the first time, many said that they would never miss another ANZAC event. For me and for Durack, ANZAC 100 years is a new coming of age for Australia.”