A FITTING tribute to an important period in Lucindale’s history will be officially unveiled on March 10.
The soldier settlers who played a key role in the development of the district have been honoured with a commemorative structure at the Four Mile intersection just south of Lucindale.
A large open shed has been erected to cover an array of development machinery of the area – mostly sourced from the late Lucindale pioneer Steve DiGiorgio.
A number of panels have been placed in the shed which display the names and photographs of the properties the settler families developed.
The tribute will be opened by prominent former politician Rory McEwen, the son of a Lucindale soldier settler, at 11am.
Trevor Rayner who was among the main drivers of the project said it was a big undertaking, but the contribution of the soldier settlers to the area could not be underestimated.
“The opening up of land, construction of roads, telephone communication, schools, businesses and community infrastructure as a result of the settlers’ arrival advanced the district,” he said.
“This is what made Lucindale.”
Mr Rayner said few people realised how many soldier settlers came to Lucindale in the postwar period of the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Research revealed 90 blocks were allocated to settlers in the Lucindale District Council area through the Land Development Executive program for ex-servicemen – far more than even the long-term locals had realised.
Mr Rayner said he was inspired to create the tribute while travelling home from Queensland.
He noticed several towns along the way had similar tributes to the agricultural industries in their districts.
He started to make some enquiries locally and was able to locate a number of ploughs and a bulldozer with the help of Mr DiGiorgio.
More research using the book In Two Fields by Pam and Brian O’Connor as a reference led to names of families and property photographs becoming available and finally several years later the result is there for all to see at the prominent Four Mile intersection.
Lucindale’s LINC group has been involved in funding and coordinating the project and Lucindale Lions Club and generous locals provided financial support in a true community effort.
“I do not think there’s anything like this anywhere in this region,” LINC member Paul Dolan said.
“I’m not aware of any tribute or commemoration of soldier settlers like this.”
A sausage sizzle and coffee will be provided on site at the opening event – everyone is welcome and attendees are asked to bring a chair.
