Retirement village opens war memorial

Peninsula Village hosted General Peter Cosgrove on Thursday, September 20, for the opening of the Village's war memorial.

General Cosgrove served in the Australian Army from 1965 to 2005 and as chief of defence force from 2002 to 2005.

He served in Vietnam and commanded Interfet, the international forces overseeing East Timor's transition to independence and was the 2001 Australian of the Year.

Peninsula Village executive assistant Ms Linda Grant said many people may not be aware that the Peninsula Village, located in Pozieres Ave, at Umina was constructed in a very special place.

"The land around the Peninsula Village in Umina Beach was subdivided during a time between World War I and World War II.

"The subdivision was called and is still officially known as Our Boys' Estate.

"The name Pozieres came from the Battle of Pozieres which was a two week struggle in a French Village of that name in mid-1916," said Ms Grant.

"It is remembered as an Australian Battle which was won at enormous cost.

"It has been claimed by some historians that 'the Pozieres Ridge is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth.

"The roadway that initially ran through Peninsula Village was originally named Arras Ave after a 1917 battle on the Western Front when Australian and other Commonwealth Forces attacked German defences near the French city of Arras.

"To the north of Peninsula Village is Lone Pine Ave, named after the battle between Australian and Turkish Forces in early August, 1915.

"The other areas around the Village include Bapaume Ave, named after two battles in 1916 and then again in 1918, Rabaul Ave which was the headquarters of German New Guinea during World War I and Dardanelles Ave was named after the Dardanelles straits which were heavily mined by the Turks.

"The British campaign to clear the Dardanelles straits led within a few months to Australian soldiers being trapped on the beaches of Gallipoli on Anzac Day.

"To the north of Peninsula Village you have Gallipoli Ave and two streets to the south at Umina Beach we have Australia Ave," said Ms Grant.

Village chairman Mr Darrell Pannowitz commented at the opening that at Peninsula Village there were 92 residents that were returned servicemen and women or spouses of "those brave people that served our country".

"The War Memorial, which was recently created within the Village in Pozieres Ave was an idea made possible with thanks to the Department of Veteran Affairs who provided a grant to enable construction of the stone by Ian Butler, a Village volunteer passionate about creating a place for those to reflect.

The Village maintenance team, led by Jackie Bennett and Bill McCarthy, along with many others also had a hand in the construction of the memorial.

"We thank General Cosgrove who is now the chairman for Leading Aged Care Services, a peak body that supports the aged care sector for travelling to Umina as our guest dignitary," said Ms Grant.

"We also thank Reverend Dr Peter Swain who conducted the blessing, the catafalque party was by the 25 Army Cadet Unit at Erina and Ken Townsend for sounding of the Last Post and Reveille."

Media Release, 27 Sep 2012

Linda Grant, Peninsula Village