New memorial for Rogers Park

A new memorial recognising Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Rogers and the HMAS Voyager was unveiled in Rogers Park, Woy Woy, on February 11 with a large number of ex Naval, RSL and National Service personnel in attendance.

The site of a previous memorial, situated at the other side of Rogers Park close to Ocean Beach Rd, was considered to be unsuitable to host services to reflect the loss of Navy personnel as a result of the collision between the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and the HMAS Voyager which saw 82 souls lost.

A service to unveil the new memorial was conducted by Central Coast Naval Sub Section President Colin Ward.

Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Jonathan Rogers (after whom Rogers Park is named) received the George Cross as a result of his actions in helping many of the crew escape through a porthole as the HMAS Voyager sank.

Unfortunately, CPO Rogers and a number of the crew were unable to use this method of escape and perished with the ship.

When last seen, CPO Rogers had linked arms with those remaining to sing the Naval Hymn as the ship sank below the surface.

The new memorial was placed thanks to the efforts of Central Coast Council, with staff working tirelessly to have it completed in time for the service.

It is a larger version of the previous memorial and comprises sandstone blocks bordering a garden which is filled with flora.

Many wreaths were laid by various ex-service organisations before attendees adjourned to the Everglades Country Club to reflect on those lost and those still suffering as a result of the catastrophe.

Source:

Media release, Feb 15 Greg Mawson, President Gosford RSL Sub Branch

Gosford Red Cross Society to fundraise.

Jackson has undertaken extensive research on the monument over the past decade.

“The Central Coast has the only existing freestanding war memorial designed by Keesing in Australia; an architect who was one of the most important leaders of Great War memorial contemporary design in our nation,” she said.

“Gordon Keesing was the Australian Principal Architect behind some of Australia’s most significant Great War monuments created for battlefields abroad.

“These designs represent the contribution of Australia in the Great War and the service and sacrifice of the Australian Imperial Force.”

Source: Media release, Feb 17 Merril Jackson

The service on February 11

Call for roundabout at Empire Bay

A grassroots campaign is underway to have a roundabout installed at the intersection of Wards Hill Rd and Empire Bay Dr at Empire Bay.

Resident Bill Young said a post on the Killcare-Wagstaffe Community Facebook page attracted more than 90 likes and 58 comments in just three days, all overwhelmingly in support of a roundabout.

In the lead-up to next month’s State election, the community is calling on Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch and Labor candidate for the seat Sam Boughton to commit to pushing for a roundabout similar to the one recently constructed at Picnic Pde and Maitland Bay Dr,

Ettalong Beach.

Young said the intersection was “an accident waiting to happen”.

“Unless one wishes to exit the long way around via MacMaster Beach, the intersection is the only exit from the heavily populated Killcare, Hardys Bay, Pretty Beach and Wagstaffe area,” he said.

“It is a highly dangerous intersection, particularly for anyone turning right towards Bensville and Kincumber.”

Young said it all started when someone put a sign up at the intersection saying ‘Adam Crouch, we need a roundabout’.

“It was in the perfect position for all the morning and afternoon traffic on Wards Hill

Rd to see,” he said.

“I took a photo of that and posted it on the local FB page.

“And that’s what started the many likes and comments on this issue.

“It is obviously of major concern to a lot of people in the Killcare, Pretty Beach, Hardys Bay and Wagstaffe area.

“At the moment, many cars do a ‘rat-run’ through the petrol station to avoid the intersection and turn left towards Ettalong.

“But it is the right hand turn on to Empire Bay Drive that is the most dangerous.

“Often your vision to the left is obscured by a vehicle turning left.”

Young said countless people could attest to the serious danger of the intersection.

“Often on school days around 8.30-9am, the traffic bank up from the Empire Bay Primary School extends as far as this intersection, which only compounds the problem,” he said.

“The other interesting thing is that there is not a single comment objecting to the call for a roundabout or a solution.

“There are a couple of other suggested options, but support for the roundabout idea is overwhelming.

“The good thing is that there is plenty ty of vacant land available at the site to accommodate a roundabout.”