Townsville Remembers sacrifice made by WWI soldiers
Date published: 6 October 2018
Townsville will be the first city to display a touring art installation to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War.
The acrylic installation features 8 letters spelling ‘Remember’ – standing 3 metres high and 16 metres long.
Each letter is filled with handmade poppies, with over 57,000 in total representing the number of Queensland soldiers who enlisted in the First World War.
Townsville City Council will host the launch of the installation with a small commemorative event this Saturday at 9am.
Acting Mayor Cr Les Walker said he is proud that Townsville is the first city to display the Armistice Centenary public art installation.
“Townsville has historically been a garrison city and it is really special to see the tour of this wonderful piece of art commence here,” Cr Walker said.
“It’s fitting to see the tour start in Townsville given the first servicemen to be deployed in the First World War came from North Queensland.
“There has always been a strong local connection with the Defence Force and it’s great to see Townsville recognised as a major military hub in Queensland.”
Community and Cultural Development Committee Chair Cr Colleen Doyle said the Remember installation will be on display until Monday 8 October.
“The art will be on display until next Monday so I really encourage residents to come down to The Strand and take a look,” Cr Doyle said.
“It’s a really impressive piece with a very significant meaning – more than 57,000 soldiers involved in World War 1 were from Queensland and this is an amazing way to commemorate 100 years since their service that shaped Australia.
“This recognises not only Townsville’s military history but also as a major artistic centre in Northern Australia.”
The Armistice Centenary art installation is a Queensland Government initiative.
The installation will be on display at the Landsborough Street Headland behind Juliette’s Gelateria from this Saturday until Monday 8 October.
