onslow
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Onslow, was established in 1833 on the coast at the mouth of the Ashbourton River as a port to service sheep stations that were being established in the hinterland. After WW1 the residents decided their Memorial should be an addition to the Hospital of a Maternity Ward. The "Soldiers Memorial" plaque on the right which reads:
Presented By The Residents of the Ashburton District
This Maternity Ward Has Been Erected To The Memory Of Those Who Fell In The Great War 1914-1919
was mounted in the ward. A Hall,called the Mechanics Institute was also built in which the Roll of Honour, shown on the left, hung. Sixtyfour names are shown on this Roll which is headed:
Our gallant boys who gave their
services for King and Country
in the great European War
In the l/h bottom corner a small brass plate records That the Roll of Honour was presented by J. Clark & Co.,Onslow whilst below the names of the WW1 soldiers another small plate reads:
Those who made the supreme sacrifice 1939 - 1944
By 1925 the port was silting up so it was decided
to relocate to the present site on Beadon Bay. The Mechanics
Institute was dismantled and re-erected in the main street
where,today, with a name change to the R.M.Forrest Memorial Hall
and the addition of a modern front in which these two plaques
hang it forms part of the Shire Offices which administer the
Town, 1385kms.North of Perth with a population of approx. 800.
Media Release-Shire of Ashburton
The tiny NW coastal town of Onslow WA (population
750) is abuzz with excitement and anticipation as the dedication
service for their recently completed War Memorial draws near.At
11am on Monday 15 September, invited guests, residents and
seasonal visitors will gather together at Beadon Point for a
simple ceremony to mark what has been an incredible achievement
for this small community.The memorial sculpture, the work of
internationally acclaimed artisans Charlie and Joan Smith (HMAS
Sydney Memorial Geraldton WA) is a stylized interpretation of the
Australia Defence Forces’ Rising Sun cap badge. The
sculpture is geographically positioned so that the rays of the
rising sun shine directly through the arch each Anzac Day.In the
words of one well travelled Vietnam veteran the Onslow memorial
is the most evocative tribute he has seen; elegant and eloquent
in its simplicity and spectacular location. A truly Aussie salute
worthy of the sacrifices that inspired the construction of the
memorial.Federal Minister for Veterans’ Affairs the Hon Alan
Griffin MP has signalled his intention to travel from Canberra to
attend the ceremony and will join representatives from the
Pilbara Regiment, RSL WA State Executive and West Australian
politicians.The ceremony will also mark the 65th anniversary of
the bombing of Onslow by enemy aircraft and as a finale to the
event, pilots from 2 FTS RAAF Pearce will perform a fly past.
Keith Pearson
Chief Executive Officer
PREVIOUSLY
With the re-location of the town site the WW1
Memorial was lost. Over the years the question of a War Memorial
for the new town was raised a number of times without result.
Following WW2 the Onslow Sub-Branch of the Returned Services
Leaque raised the question of a War Memorial again but,again,
without result. Natural attrition reduced the numbers of
ex-servicemen in Onslow and the RSL branch eventually closed. In
2004 the Onslow Townscape Committee held a meeting with
professional town planners to discuss the future development of
the town, the question of a War Memorial was raised and this time
a decision was made to proceed.The Shire had already received a
grant from the State Government towards an event to commemorate
the anniversary of the bombing of the town by Japanese aircraft
in WW2 and it was decided to apply these funds together with
monetary contributions from Onslow Salt P/L, Pilbara Development
Commission and the Shire itself to the design,manufacture and
erection of the Memorial. Beadon Point, a popular look-out over
Beadon Bay and within a short walking distance from the Town, was
chosen as the Memorial site. Linked to the Town by road and the
Ian Blair Memorial Boardwalk* the
Point already had small Memorials, for Ian Blair and for the
trawlers Harmony and Lady Pamela lost with all hands during
cyclone Bobby 1995.
Photo courtesy C&J
Smith
The above photo shows the Memorial, constructed of steel with a
height of 6m.and width of 10m, erected at Beadon Point The arch
of the Memorial bears the inscription "we will
remember them".
Photos courtesy Shire of Ashburton
The photo on the right shows some of guests including Reverend
Steve Cloudsdale Chaplain to the Pilbara Regt., who conducted the
dedication service, Major Lindsay Conway representing the Pilbara
Regt. and Chief Petty Officer Jack Ripper representing the Royal
Australian Navy,also present,representing the RSL, was Inspector
John Ballantyne. On the left is shown the Hon.Alan Griffin MP,
Federal Minister for Veterans Affairs planting a coastal sheoak,
one of several to be planted at the site, assisted by a Shire
employee.
* Ian Blair, a member of the W.A.Police
service was posted to Onslow in 1959. Upon retirement he made
Onslow his home and became involved in many community
activities..He died in 1998.