MORE than a thousand Inverell residents and visitors marched as one to remember the Kurrajongs and all other men and women who served in the First World War on Sunday morning, January 10.
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The re-enactment march was designed to replicate the farewell of 114 Inverell district men called the Kurrajongs, who departed Inverell en masse on January 12, 1916.
People began the march at Varley Oval and concluded at the Inverell Pioneer Village at the original Inverell Railway station where the Kurrajongs boarded a train to their fates in Europe.
Over two years in the making, re-enactment march committee vice president Ann Hodgens OAM was at a loss for words at the result of their efforts.
“It’s just awesome, I don’t know how else to describe it,” she said.
“What a privilege to sit on that platform this morning and see this sea of faces. “It’s just absolutely incredible, and very heart-warming and wonderful to think that so many families come together and supported this.”
About 300 descendants of the Kurrajongs travelled from all parts of Australia for the event, which featured re-enactments of the 1916 speeches made by former dignitaries recited by their contemporary counterparts.
Those on the poppy-bordered dais included Assistant Minister for Defence Darren Chester, who read a message from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull congratulating the effort and recognising the Kurrajongs and those who served in the First World War.
“Above all, we remember that these soldiers are not just the stuff of legends they have since become, but real people,” Mr Chester read.
“Fathers; brothers; sons; grandsons; nephews, beloved of their families.”
Siblings Cecelia Byrne, Donna Hunt and Neil Byrne travelled from Queensland for the event in honour of their grandfather and great uncle, Kurrajongs Paddy and Charlie Byrne.
“They were in North West Queensland, and they returned all the way to Inverell to join the Kurrajongs,” Neil said.
“So it’s very much a family day for us. It’s not about war; it’s about family for us.”
Marissa and Anneliese Clarke, aged 6 and 8, took part in the march beside their parents.
“We were marching in the parade because my pop’s dad fought in war,” Marissa said solemnly.
“Hector Clarke,” Anneiliese said, and added she was proud of him.
“Because he fought in war for the country,” she said.
The march was led by NSW mounted police in historical costume, Senior Constables Leanne Ford and Kelly Bourke on their horses Sovereign and Jackson.
They found a shady spot at the Pioneer Village and Sr Constable Bourke said ceremonial duties were a large part of their work across the state.
Eager children clustered around the placid horses, eager to give their noses a pat.
“It’s lovely; it’s a nice part of the job,” Sr Constable Bourke said.
“It’s great to come up to the country and be part of things like this.”
Beside them in period dress, Light Horsemen Troopers Tim Hough and Wayne Mills were cooling off.
“Both our fathers were Light Horsemen. They were in the militia,” Trooper Hough said.
“It’s very satisfying; people really appreciate us going in these sorts of parades.”
After the ceremony, the Kurrajong descendants collected for a group photo, and as they dispersed, conversations could be overheard from knots of people discussing their First World War connections.
Ann felt it was a time of change for families considering those veterans.
“I was thinking about it yesterday, and I wondered if there’s still an element of grief over what happened, perhaps because it wasn’t talked about in families,” she said.
“Now people are finding out more, and more stories are coming out, and people and learning more, and there is this desire, this very strong desire to remember those men in war.”
