Trees of Tribute - Eumundi's WW1 Memorial Trees

TREES OF TRIBUTE Eumundi’s WW1 Memorial Trees

Centenary of ANZAC 

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The Eumundi Historical Association through Discover Eumundi Heritage & Visitor Centre is working on a number of projects for the Centenary of ANZAC Trees of Tribute is the overall name for these

Trees of Tribute Project Projects include:  Researching those who enlisted from Eumundi & surrounds  Information panels to be placed at the front of two Memorial Trees  Book on the 20 men who did not return from WW1 and the trees planted as memorials  Audio visual stories on each of the 20

War Declared in 1914 

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Eumundi was still a young community when war was declared in 1914. Patriotic fever ran high…

Between 1914 and 1918, over 80 men from Eumundi enlisted in the armed forces Their absence had a considerable impact on a population of less than 500 men, women and children

20 Memorial Trees 

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Memorial Trees with plaques were planted during and after WW1 to honour the 20 men The impetus for the planting of the Memorial Trees was provided by the Eumundi Women's Patriotic Committee Funds were raised by public subscription - approx £100

Eumundi School of Arts 

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During the war, fund raising functions and war rallies were held in the hall The Red Cross, the Comfort’s Fund and the Women’s Patriotic Committee held meetings there The Honour Roll for WW1 hangs in the hall

Memorials in Queensland 

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Up to the early 20th century there were few statues or monuments in Queensland As a result of WW1 (1914 1918) memorials were erected in almost every Queensland town Such public expression of both grief for the dead and pride in the nation has not been generated by previous or subsequent wars

Cooroy monument to WW1 includes C S Stokes who also had a tree planted for him in Eumundi

Trees as Memorials 

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Avenues of trees as memorials, and particularly those where each tree is attributed to a fallen serviceman are uncommon in Queensland Most memorials erected during or after WW1 were of the monumental type

White Picket Fences… 

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Each tree was enclosed by a neat 6' x 6' paling fence painted white All had a 10" x 8" bronze tablet bearing in brass letters the name, unit, date and place of death of each deceased soldier At right Repairs to the last remaining white picket fence Gridley flame tree

At left From 1918 showing the protective white picket fences

All 20 were Fig Trees…  

The original Eumundi Memorial Trees were fig trees 15 didn't survive - replaced with other species including flame tree, camphor laurel, lilly pilly and jacaranda

Plaques Replaced 

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By the 1970s - many trees had been replaced – with plaques either missing or deteriorated 12 remaining plaques were replaced in 1976 by the Maroochy Shire Council with original plaques placed in the Eumundi Museum – now Discover Eumundi or given to family members

Ceremony in Clem Park to replace plaques

The plaque above - now at Discover Eumundi

Main Street Name Change 

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The trees continued to be significant to the town and local community Indicated by the community based suggestion to change the name of the street most were planted on from Main Street to Memorial Drive in 1977

Main Street Eumundi 1940’s

Memorial Drive Eumundi 1980’s

Town Landmarks 

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The Memorial Trees and their setting are now a landmark within Eumundi and contribute to the aesthetic qualities of the townscape Continue to be a focal point for the community, providing the venue for Eumundi markets and other events important to the town

Focal Point for Remembrance 

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The 20 trees continue to be an important part of remembrance ceremonies in Eumundi – ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day They provide an educational opportunity for the local school children who make floral tributes to place at the foot of each tree

Eumundi Families 

Many relatives of the 20 still pay tribute to these men and to others who returned from WW1 laying wreaths to remember them

Researching our Diggers 

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Volunteers and staff at Discover Eumundi have spent many hours bringing the stories of our diggers to life – and haven’t finished yet…

Following is just a feel for what has been uncovered…

Impacts of WW1 

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The First World War had an immense impact on the Australian population Of those who went to war almost 1 in 5 did not return Common for families to lose more than 1 son and for small communities to lose a whole generation of men…

Eight Sons to WW1…

Abraham and Cooke family 

A mother with 4 sons married a man with 4 sons – all 8 sons went to WW1 Herbert William Cooke

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Jabez Abraham

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Cyril Abraham

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Killed in action – Gallipoli 30 June 1915 Died 21 August 1916 Died 20 October 1918

These 3 men were the son and stepsons of G H Cooke Herbert William Cooke who came to Eumundi in 1911 to take up the position of local schoolmaster

William Henry Armfield  

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Killed 5 April 1918 – Dernancourt France At the time of enlistment he worked for Patrick Donnelly a well respected builder in Eumundi and was engaged to one of Patrick’s daughters Cecily His body was never found and his name – along with his brother’s is memorialised William’s mother Eliza on the Villiers-Bretonneux Memorial in France Cecily Donnelly mourned her fiancée deeply and posted memorial notices in the Nambour Chronicle up to 1920

Clarence Howard Culpin  

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Killed in action in France on 16 Apr 1918 – 36 years old Clarence is buried in the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery, Picardie, France His father Dr. Culpin came to Eumundi from Brisbane to plant his tree at a ceremony in October 1918…

Clarence Culpin 1915

Vincent Michael Donnelly 

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The Donnelly family moved to the Main Camp area of Eumundi around 1908 Vincent was employed by his father as a carpenter when he enlisted in the AIF in 1916 Killed in action in France 18 September 1918 - aged 26 years

Walter Joseph (Ted) Gridley  

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Died - July 28 1918, France Great grandson of Joseph Gridley - first settler to take up land in the Eumundi district Ted’s brothers James, Robert and Oscar also enlisted Oscar Gridley with

Bob and Ted Gridley

their Mother

Walter Gridley

Francis Morgan (Frank)   

Died - 9 October 1917 Belgium Timber cutter in the district prior to the war His brother Bert also served, but survived and returned to the Eumundi district Gravesite Ypres, West Flanders Frank Morgan 1915 - sitting second from left

Thomas James Rubenach  

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Died at Sea 11 June 1919 A well liked young man he had worked as a ‘striker’ at George Adams blacksmith shop in Cook Street.

He played football for the local Eumundi side.

When war broke out he was ‘courting’ a local girl and after his departure overseas a son was born…

Football team Jimmy sitting second from left

Aubrey Stuart-Russell  

Died of wounds - July 4 1918, France Came to the district in 1910 with his family and was the grandson of explorer Henry Stuart-Russell

Wilfred George Wells  

Killed in action 14 November 1915 An excerpt of writing on the back of photo at right sent to his mother

‘Dear Mum, This is just a rough photo taken of his lordship outside my tent on Salisbury Plains.

Of course you can see that I am not done up for the occasion with my pockets undone…

Am feeling quite well.

Hope all are well.

Love from Wilf.’

Then and Now The changing landscape over 95 years 

A row of trees in their white picket fences contrast with mature trees today as a canopy to the Eumundi Markets

1920

2015