After an overnight stay at Mr Ralph Naden’s Balladoran Aboriginal Youth and Cultural Camp, the Coo-ee marchers had bacon and eggs for breakfast, before taking the opportunity to recreate the ‘sumptuous’ breakfast that the Coo-ees had at Balladoran on 11th October 1915, shown in this photograph from the Daily Telegraph.
Who wouldn’t be a recruit? Breakfast at Balladoran (Daily Telegraph 14/10/1915)
Coo-ee marchers breakfast scene at Balladoran
The Coo-ee marchers left Balladoran at 8 am, and experienced warm weather, and ‘dust and flies’, just like the Coo-ees did in 1915.
The Coo-ee marchers leaving Balladoran
They arrived at Eumungerie about 11.30 am, where they were greeted by members of the local community at the Eumungerie-Coboco Memorial Hall.
The Coo-ee marchers then went to the Eumungerie-Coboco RSL War Memorial for a commemorative service with local RSL Sub-Branch members, and members of the local community.
Graham Greenleaf, a grandson of Leslie Greenleaf who lived at Eumungerie when he joined the Coo-ee March at Gilgandra in 1915, gave a speech about his grandfather, including how he had felt when he had been presented with a wristwatch by the local people of Eumungerie when the Coo-ees stayed there overnight on 11th October 1915.
Graham Greenleaf speaking at the Eumungerie service
A new plaque was unveiled at the War Memorial, in memory of the Coo-ee March. The Reverend Graeme Yager, from St Ambrose Church in Gilgandra, who is one of the Coo-ee marchers, blessed the new plaque.
The new Cooee March Centenary plaque at Eumungerie-Coboco RSL War Memorial
The Coo-ee marchers then had lunch at the Drovers Dog Hotel, before spending the night at the Eumungerie-Coboco Memorial Hall.
Further information about this day in 1915 can be read at http://cooeemarch1915.com/2014/01/30/day-2-monday-11-october-1915-balladoran-to-eumungerieiguy/
Coo-ee March 2015 Re-enactment 