Wommin Bay Memorial Walkway

About

The memorial consists of a concrete walkway, connecting Murphy's Road with a lookout at Dreamtime Beach in Kingscliff, NSW. Along the path are a number of concrete plinths. The plinths feature numerous plaques, which have been placed in honour of conflicts in which Australia has been involved. The inscriptions include a variety of information, such as historical accounts of operations, casualty statistics, and dedications to specific groups. Some of the groups represented are indigenous service personnel, servicewomen, and homefront workers. Several of the plaques have been designed, written, or illustrated by students from local schools.  The plaques are in the shape of open books, with the two 'pages' filled with raised text that has been highlighted in gold. They also often include illustrations to complement the content. These illustrations include service personnel, animals, maps, and emblems or logos of related orgnisations, such as the Returned and Services League of Australia. Each plaque is shown in the images above and is transcribed in the Inscriptions section below.  The walkway is marked by a timber sign at the corner of Murphy's Road and McKissock Drive. There is also a commemorative plaque, attached to a bushrock in front of the sign, in honour of Ivan Mackay and Mavis Gilmore who were integral in the development of the memorial. The walkway was opened by General Peter Cosgrove on 26 April 2007. The details of the opening are recorded on one of the plaques along the walk. The project was the result of contributions by the Tweed Shire Council, Kingscliff RSL sub-Branch, Wommin Bay Village, the Lions Club, individuals, local orgnisations, businesses, schools and historical societies, and grants from the Australian Government's Department of Veterans' Affairs.  Timeline for plaques Since the opening of the walkway, numerous plaques have been installed: Early 2012 - The 'Australia's committment to Afghanistan' plaque was dedicated.  17 August 2012 - Kingscliff RSL sub-Branch received a Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grant from the Department of Veterans' Affairs to install a plaque in honour of the Australians who served in the Anglo-Boer War. It was dedicated by Bogangar Public School and unveiled by General Cosgrove at the opening of the walkway. 15 September 2014 - The department awarded a Community Commemorative Grant to the sub-Branch for the installation of another two plaques. These were the 'Balikpapan' and 'Somalia' plaques.  10 August 2016 - Ms Justine Elliott MP, member for Richmond, dedicated four more plaques on the walkway. These were the 'Australian Animals in War', 'Changi Prison', 'Legacy', and 'Australians in Vietnam' plaques. The sub-Branch had received a Community Commemorative Grant from the department for the Changi Prison and Vietnam plaques. 11 June 2019 - Ms Elliott MP unveiled two new plaques commemorating 'National Service' and 'Operation Tamar'. 14 June 2020 - The sub-Branch was awarded an Australian Community Grant to install two plaques on the walkway dedicated to military personnel who served in the First World War. These were the 'Australians on the Western Front' and the 'Australians in Gallipoli' plaques.  Also located on site is the Wommin Bay Memorial Walkway Lone Pine.