The Catani World War Two Honor Board was unveiled on Sunday, July 13, 1947. The Honor Board is housed in the Catani Memorial Hall (see here), which is currently closed to the public, so I assume it is still there. The Koo Wee Rup Sun covered the event.
Catani Hall
seating accommodation was fully taxed last Sunday afternoon by local residents
and visitors from both near and far. To witness the unveiling ceremony of an honor
roll containing the names of forty-six Catani men and women who served their
King and County in the Second War World.
The stage was
nicely decorated with vases and jardinières containing flowers. Prior to unveiling
the honor roll was screened by the Union Jack, with the Australian flag on the
left and the Boys Scouts ‘on the right. Two members of the Bots Scout’s Troop
acted as standard –bearers each side of the honor roll. Mr. W. Hubbard of Kooweerup, officiated as organist. Cr. M. Bennett, M.L.A.,
president of the Catani Welcome Home Committee, was chairman, and with him on
the dais were Lt.-Col. R.S. Ryan. M.H.R.; Col. Geo. J. Bowden, M.H.R.; Cr. W.C. Greaves, President of the Cranbourne
Shire. Among other visitors present were Cr. W. Taylor and L.J. Cochrane, of Kooweerup,
and J. Fallon, President of the Berwick Shire, and Mr and Mrs J. Downer, former
Catani residents.
In extending
a warm welcome to all, Cr. Bennett said their presence showed sincere appreciation
of the great services rendered by those who had left Catani homes to help save
their country. The Catani Welcome Home Committee had organized welcome homes to
local ex-service men and women and now had arrived, as it were, the last night
of the drama. On the honor roll, he said, were inscribed the names of forty-six
ex-service men and women who had heard their country’s call. Unfortunately two
of them had failed to return, and to their relatives they tendered their
deepest sympathy. They had the knowledge, however, that their loved ones had
paid the greatest sacrifice possible for anyone to pay. It was delightful to
see such an assembly present and the committee was delighted to have their
presence. The ladies, he said, had provided afternoon tea and desired all after
the ceremony to participate in same.
In
supporting Cr Bennett’s welcome to those present, Cr. W.C. Greaves said as a representative
of the shire it was a pleasure to him to be present do the honor to the men and
women of the Catani district who had served in the forces. The shire, he said,
was proud of the number of men and women who had enlisted within its boundary.
They had served on land and sea and in the air and had given good service. On
behalf of the shire he extended a hearty welcome to those present on such a memorable
day.
The chairman
then announced apologies for non-attendance from Lt.-Col. Dennett, M.L.A., and
Mr Bailey, jun.
Following
the singing of “All People That on Earth do Dwell” by the congregation, Mr. A.
Freeman, of Kooweerup, and an ex-prisoner of war, spoke on behalf of the
Church. He said that after his Army experience to again find himself that
afternoon faced by two colonels gave him
a kind of tremor and that vibration had increased
by being asked to speak in the presence of politicians. Having been referred to
by the chairman as a padre, he wished to say that he was only an “unofficial’’
padre of his unity while a prisoner of war. This unofficial office, however,
had given him a better opportunity to contact the boys. He was pleased to be
present to do honor to the men and women of the Catani district who had helped
to attain ultimate victory. They should be ever thoughtful and grateful of their
services. They went away, not counting the cost, to defend the Empire in its
day of crisis, and all, he said, should dedicate their lives to their Country
and their King. The supreme sacrifice made by many could only be justified by men
and women in the days to come. They had played their part and were watching to
see how the people had appreciated the work they had done. By looking back a
lesson could be learnt and all should have faith and hope in the future. No sacrifice to them had been too great a
price to pay. A kind of future to justify the past must rise to its moral
demands. To him the war was still on, as greed, hate and selfishness were
pulling the standard of Empire down. Service for the right is victorious and
they should dedicate their lives to the service of mankind for the uplifting of
the people. He believed the Government had not done its job to ex-service men and women, especially to
the widows of those who had paid the supreme sacrifice. All should try to do
all they could to repay those who had rendered such sacrifices.
The hymn, “Lest
We Forget,” was then sung by the congregation.
Accompanied
on the piano by Miss Jessie Coates, Mr Lindsay Mortimer nicely sang ”There is
no Death” and as an encore number rendered
“Arise, O Sun.”
Cr. Bennett
then called on Lt.-Col. Ryan to unveil the honor roll.
Lt.-Col.
Ryan said the people of to-day were living in a Godless material age, seeking
after the latter instead of spiritual things. Peace will only be won and maintained by
service, sacrifice and co-operation of man. There were, he said, forty-six
named of ex-service men and women of Catani on the honor roll, two of whom had
laid down their life.
He then
unveiled the honor roll, all present standing in silence, while the organist
played Handel’s “Dead March in Saul”, followed by “The Last Post,” sounded by
Mr E.H. Lawrence, of Five Mile, and the singing of the National Anthem.
The
chairman thanked Mr Hubbard and Mr Lawrence for assisting in the ceremony, and
before dispersing all greatly appreciated a dainty afternoon tea provided by the
ladies.
D. Anderson, J.Bonnett, J. Burnett, F. Bailey, C. Corbin, L.Corbin, L. Excell, E. Fisher,
