A walk through history

All throughout the country Australians have this year commemorated the 100th anniversary of ANZAC Day.

As one of our strongest national traditions, it's important to remember the sacrifices made by our ancestors and Lockyer Valley residents will get a chance to do this in November with the March of the Dungarees.

A number of dungaree march re-enactments are scheduled across Australia - here in the Lockyer Valley we are fortunate to have both the A Call to Arms and 139 Army Cadet Unit re-enactments to witness.

The A Call to Arms re-enactment will take place in Laidley with a street march recreating a photo taken in November 1915 when the original Dungaree March passed through Laidley followed by a diverse range of activities and demonstrations at Laidley Pioneer Village and Museum. Then early in December the 139 Army Cadet Unit re-enactment will pass through the Lockyer Valley after leaving Warwick, heading to Brisbane.

Lockyer Valley Mayor, Steve Jones, has encouraged residents to witness these unique opportunities to honour the descendants of local families that served in World War I.

These events commemorate the 100th anniversary of the march which played a significant part of World War I, Cr Jones said.

Following the loss of lives in Gallipoli, Australian Prime Minister, Billy Hughes, called for more recruits which resulted in a number of patriotic marches.

In 1915, the Southeast Queensland march left Warwick on November 16 and made its way through the towns of Allora, Clifton, Greenmount, Cambooya, Toowoomba, Helidon, Gatton, Laidley, Rosewood, Ipswich and Oxley on its way to Brisbane.

As part of this momentous year for ANZACs, the march will be re-enacted with the A Call to Arms event being held in Laidley on 29 November, giving residents a rare-glimpse into the events which unfolded 100 years ago, Mayor Jones said.

The march will assemble at the top of Patrick Street in Laidley, north of the railway line. The marchers are re-enacting a photo that was taken in 1915 when the march passed this very point in Laidley, although some of the buildings are a little different now.

When the march reaches the corner of William and Patrick Street, a call will be made, asking for volunteers to join, as was the case in 1915, Mayor Jones said.

The parade will then march down to the ANZAC Memorial for the Flag Raising Ceremony and Rifle Salute before moving to Lions Park and reassembling for the march to the Laidley Pioneer Village.

Displays and activities being held at the Pioneer Village include:

• Historical military vehicles
• Displays and demonstrations featuring the Lockyer Light Horse Troop
• Re-enactment of the 1915 induction process and medicals
• Australian Defence Force Recruiting and the 2nd Light Horse Regiment
• Re-enactment of marriages before new recruits depart on the march
• Demonstrations of rifle handling and marching drills
• Demonstrations of horse skills including tent pegging
• Clydesdale and heavy horse displays and wagon rides
• Vintage T-Model Ford display
• Live music with local bands, lots of lovely food, plenty of entertainment for the kids

Timeline of events

10.30am: re-enactment of the Call to Arms march will take place, moving from Patrick Street in Laidley to the ANZAC memorial

11.15am: parade reassembles at Lions Park in Laidley for the march to Laidley Pioneer Village

11.30am: Flag Raising Ceremony and Rifle Salute, followed by speeches

12pm: a number of re-enactment activities at the Pioneer Village

2.30pm: the new recruits will form up and the troops will march off to the next town

For more information about the March of the Dungarees 2015 - A Call to Arms, contact Council on 1300 005 872.