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Blayney to Wimbledon Road (near Newbridge) Friday 30th October 2015

Posted on October 30, 2015 | 2 comments

Blayney to Wimbledon Road (near Newbridge), then overnight stay at Bathampton, Friday 30th October 2015

The marchers left Blaynyey from near the Blayney War Memorial where they stopped marching yesterday at 8 am, after a comfortable night at Blayney Showground.

Marchers leaving Blayney from near the Blayney War Memorial 30/10/2015

Marchers leaving Blayney from near the Blayney War Memorial 30/10/2015

They stopped for lunch at Newbridge.

Marchers entering the gates at 'Bathampton' 30/10/2015

Marchers entering the gates at ‘Bathampton’ 30/10/2015

They finished the day’s marching at the intersection of Wimbledon Road and Bathampton Road at 3 pm (from where they will continue in the morning), then took the minibus provided by Clubs NSW to ‘Bathampton’ property for an overnight stay in the woolshed, which is on the site of the old woolshed that the Coo-ees stayed at in 1915.

Woolshed at 'Bathampton' where the marchers are camping overnight 30/10/2015

Woolshed at ‘Bathampton’ where the marchers are camping overnight 30/10/2015

The property owner said that a lot of the material from the original woolshed, such as the corrugated iron roof, was reused in constructing the current woolshed on the same site.

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Royal Australian Mint produces commemorative 20c coin to mark centenary of the Coo-ee March

Posted on October 25, 2015 | 1 comment

Commemorative 20c coin to mark centenary of the Coo-ee March

The Royal Australian Mint has worked with Gilgandra Shire Council to commemorate a centenary of the Coo-ee March with the inclusion of a 20c Uncirculated Coin as part of the Australia Remembers Coin Series. The Mint has created this special commemorative piece to represent all of the recruitment marches that took place during this time one hundred years ago.

Answer the call and remember with this piece now: https://eshop.ramint.gov.au/2015-20c-Coo-ee-March-Coin/310661.aspx

 

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Euchareena to Boomey Sunday 25th October 2015

Posted on October 25, 2015 | 1 comment

Euchareena to Boomey Sunday 25th October 2015

The marchers left Euchareena at 8 am after breakfast.

The marchers leaving Euchareena 25/10/2015

The marchers leaving Euchareena 25/10/2015

On the road to Boomey, the marchers passed the “Old  Nubrygyn” woolshed  near Nubrigan Creek, a few kilometres from Euchareena.

Woolshed visited by the Coo-ees in 1915 at "Old Nubrygyn" 25/10/2015

Woolshed visited by the Coo-ees in 1915 at “Old Nubrygyn” . Photograph 25/10/2015

An article published in the The Farmer and Settler on 15th October 1915 reported that the Coo-ees had stopped at this woolshed which was at the time in full operation, and that ‘one of the shearers signified his intention of enlisting, promising to join the Coo-ees at Orange’, and that the ‘proprietors, Messrs. Brazier Bros., gave a sheep’ to the Coo-ees.  The Coo-ees had then stopped for lunch at the nearby Nubrigan Creek to have lunch under the willow trees.  The property is still run by the Brazier family today.

Nubrigan Creek where the Coo-ees stopped for lunch under the willow trees in 1915. Photograph 25/10/2015

Nubrigan Creek where the Coo-ees stopped nearby for lunch under the willow trees in 1915. Photograph 25/10/2015

The marchers arrived at their campsite at Boomey at 12.45 pm, and then had the afternoon to rest.

Campsite at Boomey 25/10/2015

Campsite at Boomey 25/10/2015

Several residents of the local area visited them to have  a chat.

 

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Dubbo to Geurie Wednesday 21st October 2015

Posted on October 21, 2015 | 2 comments

Dubbo to Geurie (via Wongarbon) 21st October 2015

The marchers were provided with a hearty breakfast by South Dubbo Rotary Club at Dubbo Showground.

Breakfast provided by South Dubbo Rotary Club 21/10/2015

Breakfast provided by South Dubbo Rotary Club 21/10/2015

The marchers left Dubbo Showground at 7 am.

Car horns were tooted, and many cars stopped to watch the marchers make their way up Wingewarra Street on their way out of Dubbo.

The students at Wongarbon Public School lined up and waved Australian flags outside their school to welcome the marchers to Wongarbon.

Wongarbon Public School students welcome the marchers 21/10/2015

Wongarbon Public School students welcome the marchers 21/10/2015

A commemorative service was held at Wongarbon Soldiers Memorial at Wongarbon Public School at 12 noon.

One of the marchers, Rob McDonald, a family member of fallen Coo-ee Wilfred Ernest McDonald, whose name is remembered on the Wongarbon Soldiers’ Memorial,  gave a brief talk, and showed a plaque that had been presented to the McDonald family by the citizens of Wongarbon in 1919.

Plaque presented to Coo-ee Wilfred Ernest McDonald's amily by the citizens of Wongarbon in 1919

Plaque presented to Coo-ee Wilfred Ernest McDonald’s amily by the citizens of Wongarbon in 1919

A wreath, which was provided by the Gilgandra RSL Sub-Branch to travel with the Coo-ee March Re-enactment, to rest on the war memorials where the Coo-ees will be remembered in the commemorative services along the route, and then be returned to Gilgandra to become part of the Hitchen House Military Museum, was layed at the Wongarbon Soldiers Memorial.

Laying of the wreath travelling with the Coo-ee March Re-enactment at Wongarbon Soldiers Memorial 21/10/2015

Laying of the wreath travelling with the Coo-ee March Re-enactment at Wongarbon Soldiers Memorial 21/10/2015

After lunch at the Wongarbon Hall prepared by the Wongarbon Public School Parents and Citizens’ Association (P& C), the marchers left Wongarbon at 1 pm to travel onto Geurie.

 

Marches arriving at Geurie Memorial Hall 21/10/2015

Marches arriving at Geurie Memorial Hall 21/10/2015

A commemorative service was held in front of the Rolls of Honour at Geurie Memorial Hall at 4 pm.

Laying of wreath at Geurie Memorial Hall 21/10/2015

Laying of wreath at Geurie Memorial Hall 21/10/2015

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Eumungerie to Goonoo National Park Monday 19th October 2015

Posted on October 19, 2015 | 5 comments

The marchers left Eumungerie at 7 am this morning.

They stopped for morning tea at a property on the Coolbaggie Forest Road, which was very kindly provided by two local farming families. The marchers enjoyed immensely scones with jam and cream, sponge cake, and watermelon, and sat around on hay bales, which made welcome soft seats.

The marchers stopped at Mogriguy for a lunch break, before continuing on into the Goonoo National Park. They covered a total of 33 km to where they finished the day’s route at about 5 pm.

 

Some of the marchers at Riley's Dam at Goonoo National Park

Some of the marchers at Riley’s Dam at Goonoo National Park

They then set up camp in the spacious green camp area at Riley’s Dam, where a number of them cooled their tired feet in the dam.

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Gilgandra welcomes the descendants and family of original 1915 Coo-ee marchers

Posted on October 14, 2015 | Leave a comment

Gilgandra welcomes the descendants and family of the original 1915 Coo-ee marchers

Descendants and family of the original 1915 Coo-ee Marchers are invited to register your name and contact details at the Gilgandra Coo-ee Heritage and Visitor Information Centre on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th in the lead up to the Coo-ee March 2015 Re-enactment.

Complete your contact details in the 2015 Centenary Coo-ee March Re-enactment Guest Book and pick up a name badge to wear at the events leading up to the Farewell on Saturday 17th October. This will enable you and other descendants to recognise each other.

Registration Thursday 15th and Friday 16th October at the Coo-ee Heritage and Visitor Information Centre. Hours 10am to 2pm.

The Gilgandra Coo-ee Heritage and Visitor Information Centre is on the Newell Highway, Gilgandra. Opening hours; 9am-5pm.  Phone 6817 8700.

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Launch of ‘Gilgandra’s Coo-ees’ new museum display at Gilgandra Coo-ee Heritage & Visitor Information Centre

Posted on September 20, 2015 | Leave a comment

Launch of ‘Gilgandra’s Coo-ees’ new museum display in the Coo-ee March Gallery at Coo-ee Heritage & Visitor Information Centre

At 2 pm on Tuesday 25th August 2015 a new museum display and book about the 35 men from Gilgandra who enlisted in the Gilgandra to Sydney Coo-ee March, to volunteer for service in the First World War, was launched at the Coo-ee Heritage & Visitor Information Centre at Coo-ee Memorial Park, Gilgandra.

The new display was officially opened by Mark Coulton MP, Federal Member for Parkes.

Gilgandra Shire Council Cultural Officer Kylie Moppett, Acting Mayor Cr. Ashley Walker, Gilgandra Museum & Historical Society curator Shirley Marks, Gilgandra Museum & Historical Society member Margo Piggott, Member for Parkes Mark Coulton, and Graeme Hosken and Mrs Imelda Silva.

Gilgandra Shire Council Cultural Officer Kylie Moppett, Acting Mayor Cr. Ashley Walker, Gilgandra Museum & Historical Society curator Shirley Marks, Gilgandra Museum & Historical Society member Margo Piggott, Member for Parkes Mark Coulton, and Graeme Hosken and Mrs Imelda Silva.

Pictured from left to right in front of the new display panels, which feature information on each of the 35 Gilgandra Coo-ees,  is Gilgandra Shire Council Cultural Officer Kylie Moppett, Acting Mayor Cr. Ashley Walker, Gilgandra Museum & Historical Society curator Shirley Marks, Gilgandra Museum & Historical Society member Margo Piggott, Member for Parkes Mark Coulton, and Graeme Hosken and Mrs Imelda Silva.

Margo Piggott is holding a copy of the new ‘Gilgandra’s Coo-ees’ booklet that she researched and compiled to support the new display, which provides information about each of the 35 Gilgandra Coo-ees, including a photograph of many of them.

Family autograph book showing Bill Hitchen's and officers signatures collected at Eastern Creek on 10/11/1915, and a purple Coo-ee ribbon. Photograph courtesy of Graeme Hosken

Family autograph book belonging to Mrs I. Silva, showing Bill Hitchen’s and officers’ signatures collected at Eastern Creek on 10/11/1915, and a purple Coo-ee ribbon. Photograph courtesy of Graeme Hosken

 

Also during the launch, Mrs Imelda Silva, with her nephew Graeme Hosken, donated an original purple “Coo-ee badge” ribbon to the Coo-ee March Gallery collection, which will make a valuable addition to the collection. This ribbon had been obtained by the family at the time the Coo-ees stopped at Eastern Creek in Sydney on 10th November 1915 during the Coo-ee March. A photocopy of the signatures that were written in the autograph book on this same day, which includes Bill Hitchen’s signature, was also donated to the Coo-ee March Gallery collection.

Further information about the 1915 Coo-ee badges can be found at http://cooeemarch1915.com/2015/08/11/badges-worn-by-the-coo-ees/

The Coo-ee marchers will be wearing purple ribbons in the Coo-ee March 2015 Reenactment.

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Information sheet

Posted on November 19, 2014 | Leave a comment

This information sheet provides a brief overview of the 1915 Coo-ee March, and information and contact details for the 2015 Reenactment.

Double click on the link below to open the document, which is in PDF format, so it can be downloaded, or printed in A4 or A3 size.

Cooee March 2015 Reenactment Information Sheet

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