Memorial History

On March 23, 2023 Jim Martin called a community meeting of people interested in forming a committee to build a war memorial at Ingenia Lifestyle Hervey Bay. This was done with the blessing of the community manager Linda Nichols. From that meeting a committee was formed, consisting of Jim Martin as President, Mike Roberts as Secretary, Graham Hunt as Treasurer, Ken Burns and Paul Barker as Project Managers and Graham Henry committee. Graeme Wright joined the committee later.

The aim was to create a memorial space in a little used area, adjacent to the main hall, entrance foyer, bowls green and pool area. Our vision was to create a space for residents to use for quiet reflections as well as an impressive area to remind visitors of the sacrifices all who served in the Military have made. 

To achieve this it was decided to build five steel sculptures depicting a member of the Army, Navy, Airforce as well as a Nurse and a Dog. The statues look towards the two flagpoles and commemorative plaque. As the entrance foyer of our Community complex has glass windows overlooking the courtyard garden the committee decided that a water feature would give a visual aspect to draw visitors into the garden. Two special bench seats were installed looking from the community hall and facing the whole garden structure. 

Landscape gardens Donna Romeril and Janine McLachlan were given the challenge of designing the plantings, ensuring that they had a significance, particularly to the Anzac peninsula. And they provided something that is nothing less than stunning. The curved garden edging draws you in and welcomes and embraces.

On 2 April 2025 the garden, flagpoles, statues and water feature at the memorial were opened so residents in the village could see them prior to the Dedication Ceremony..

Jim Martin thanked everyone associated with bringing the project to fruition. Firstly he sincerely thanked Ingenia for their major contribution and the staff for their co-operation. It took more than 2 years of stop start progress to get the project completed. During that time the committee raised more than $24,000, almost $10,000 from a Department of Veterans’ Affairs ‘Saluting Their Service’ grant with the help and guidance of the Hervey Bay RSL Sub-Branch.

On top of that with the help of many residents, the fundraising committee raised money from donors including Wide Bay Motor Group, Jack Civil, Brighton Homes, Shadforths Civil Engineers, Blue Ray Gardening, Hervey Bay RSL Sub-branch and Memorial Club for a $3500 memorial seat, Etch4you, Mayor George Seymour and Cr John Weiland. 

There were also many of our Community residents who donated money and time who were thanked. Other community fundraisers included a high tea, Elvis impersonator, jumble sale, raffles and other entertainment. The finished memorial comes in at around $25,000, on budget.

A formal dedication ceremony will be held on September the 6th 2025, in readiness for Remembrance day.