Wongarbon embraces Cooee March
Dubbo Regional CouncilThe Daily Liberal - October 22 2015 - 4:00AM
THE story of the Cooee march came to life at Wongarbon Public School on Wednesday, as the 2015 Cooee re-enactment march came to town.
Children assembled at the war memorial on the school grounds to commemorate 100 years since the historic recruitment effort which saw more than 260 men volunteer to join the Australian Imperial Force during World War 1.
Acting principal Wendy Muir said the students have been studying the history of the march, and practising their "cooee".
"The children do have a good connection with the war memorial and they were very excited, watching for the marchers coming up the road," she said.
It was a special moment for Tamworth resident Bob McDonald, who is a direct descendent of original Cooee Gunner Wilfred McDonald.
Gunner McDonald joined the march at Wongarbon in 1915, died in 1917 and is now immortalised on the Wongarbon war memorial.
In 2015, Bob McDonald is marching from Gilgandra to Sydney wearing Gunner McDonald's watch and a commemorative pin.
He is also carrying a plaque - "a token of memory from Wongarbon citizens" - given to the family in 1919.
"This plaque means more to me because it's from the people," Mr McDonald said.
"I never even knew he was a Cooee until I got his service records.
"I've been looking forward to the 100 years (re-enactment march) for a while."
https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/3438725/wongarbon-embraces-cooee-…
