Gunner Percy Adam Morris Suey Memorial Plaque, Moree

About

This bronze plaque is dedicated to Gunner Percy Adam Morris Suey, an indigenous serviceman who served in the Second World War. In the plaque's top left and right corners respectively are the rising sun emblem of the Australian Imperial Force and a simple Latin cross. The dedication, which includes a list of Suey's family members, is in raised gold lettering in the centre of the plaque. It also reveals he became a missing person in May 1976, last seen in Moree, NSW (Moree Champion, 28 July 2017). The memorial is attached to a large bushrock. Above it is a similar memorial plaque for Private Ronald Thomas Smith, an indigenous serviceman who was killed and buried in New Guinea in the Second World War. The bushrock is positioned within a commemorative area in the Aboriginal section of Moree Cemetery. The area is known as 'Tranquility' and features a semi-circular retaining wall, with in-built seating, garden beds, and another large bushrock. Attached to this rock is the Moree Aboriginal Servicemen Memorial. The plaque for Gunner Suey was designed by Moree Plains Shire and the Moree Aboriginal Corporation. A separate plaque recognising the efforts of the Moree Aboriginal Corporation for Historical Research is attached below Suey's plaque. The work to identify Aboriginal names for the cemetery is based on the research of Aunty Noeline Briggs-Smith, OAM, Aboriginal elder, researcher, author, and cultural presenter. The plaques for Gunner Suey and Private Smith were placed in the Moree Cemetery in July 2001, during a 'Bringing Their Services Home' service, as part of NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) celebrations. The service was officiated by Moree's Deputy Mayor Mike Montgomery and RSL President Mr John Rushbourne. Note: Information for this listing has been contributed by Aunty Noeline Briggs-Smith. Aunty Noeline has completed detailed research on the life of Gunner Suey and Private Smith.

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