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Tweed Heads Memorial Walkway

Tweed Heads Memorial Walkway
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Garden beds with plaques along the Tweed Heads Memorial Walkway
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Garden beds with plaques along the Tweed Heads Memorial Walkway
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Tweed Heads Memorial Walkway, dedication plaque
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Tweed Heads Memorial Walkway, The Ode plaque
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Tweed Heads Second Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads RAAF 450 Squadron Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads 7th Australian Destroyer Flotilla Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads Royal Australian Regiment Association Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads RAASC Supply Platoons Association Vietnam Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads Royal Australian Corps of Signals Vietnam Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Vietnam Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads 1 Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads Delta Company 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Vietnam Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads Far East Strategic Reserve Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads 2/33 Australian Infantry Battalion A.I.F. Second World War Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads Korean War Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads 29th Infantry Brigade Second World War Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads Ex-Service Women Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads 2/25 Australian Infantry Battalion Second World War Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads National Servicemen Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads 63 Squadron 'Winnipeg Wags' Memorial Plaque
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Tweed Heads Siege of Tobruk Memorial Plaque 1
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Tweed Heads Siege of Tobruk Memorial Plaque 2
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Description / Background

Thia memorial walkway is located in Chris Cunningham Park in Tweed Heads, NSW. It features numerous bronze plaques, inscribed with raised lettering, commemorating Australian military units and organisations. The plaques are attached to decorative lattice panels set within garden beds. Several plaques have known dedication dates and those have separate records on the NSW War Memorials Register. Plaques without a known dedication date are detailed below. 

The memorial was built by Tweed Shire Council and the Coolangatta sub-Branch of the RSL. It was dedicated on 16 April 2000. A plaque detailing the event is also located along the walk.  

Chris Cunningham Park is a site of Anzac Day and other commemorative services.

2nd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment plaque

Commemorates those who have served with the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. The plaque bears the military emblem of the battalion at the top.

The battalion was first formed in 1945 as the 66th Battalion. It saw active service in Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam, as well as peacekeeping in Japan, Rwanda, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

450 Royal Australian Air Force Squadron plaque

Dedicated to those who served and died in the Second World War, from the 450 Royal Australian Air Force (R.A.A.F.) Squadron. The plaque bears the squadron's emblem at the top.

The squadron was formed at Williamtown, NSW on 16 February 1941. It served in Syria, Egypt, El Alamein, Libya, Sicily and Italy. It was nicknamed the 'Desert Harassers' after 'Lord Haw Haw', a German propagandist, who said the Australian's "harassing tactics were easily beaten off by the Luftwaffe" (Source: Australian War Memorial). It arrived in the Middle East in May, and served in the Western Desert Campaigns. The squadron disbanded at Lavarino in Italy on 20 August 1945.

7th Australian Destroyer Flotilla plaque

Commemorates the ships and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel of the 7th Australian Destroyer Flotilla, who served in the Second World War. The ships were N Class destroyers, commissioned into the RAN in 1940-1942. They served up to 1945 in the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Pacific Seas. The plaque bears the Latin phrase 'Cedere Nescio', meaning 'I know not how to yield'. This motto was given to HMAS Norman of the flotilla.

Royal Australian Regiment Association plaque

Dedicated to all soldiers of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) who have died serving Australia. In the centre of the plaque is the insignia of the RAR Association, which features a kangaroo and crossed rifles. 

RAASC Supply Platoons Association plaque

Dedicated to all who served with the Royal Australian Army Service Corps (RAASC) Supply Platoons during the Vietnam War. The colour insignia of the RAASC Vietnam Supply Platoons Associaition is in the centre of the plaque. 

Royal Australian Corps of Signals plaque

Dedicated to all who served with the Royal Australian Corps of Signals during the Vietnam War. On the left-hand side of the plaque is the insignia of the corps. The phrase 'Certa Cito' at the top of the plaque means 'Swift and Sure'. 

7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Plaque

Dedicated to all who served and fell from the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR). At the top of the plaque is the insignia of the RAR, with the Roman numeral for the number 7 inscribed next to the bottom right corner.

Excerpt from the Australian War Memorial:

The [7RAR] was raised on 1 September 1965 at Puckapunyal, Victoria. The battalion began arriving in Vietnam in April 1967, relieving 5RAR. It was part of the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) and was based at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province.

The battalion served in Vietnam until relieved by 1RAR on 9 April 1968, and arrived in Sydney on 26 April. It returned to Vietnam in February 1970, again relieving 5RAR. A year later, the battalion was relieved by 3RAR and arrived in Sydney on 10 March 1971. 

3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment plaque

Dedicated to all who fell from the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), which has seen active service in Japan, Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq. The plaque is decorated with the insignia of the RAR and two badges of the battalion. The Parachute Wings badge on the right-hand side is worn by paratroopers of the 3RAR. 

Excerpt from the Australian War Memorial:

In 1945 Australia sent three units to Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF).  Originally known as the 65th, 66th and 67th Infantry Battalions, they were raised from Australian divisions stationed in New Guinea at the end of the Second World War. On 23 November 1948, the battalions were renamed the First, Second and Third Battalion, The Australian Regiment, respectively. The prefix "Royal" was granted by King George VI on 31 March 1949.

1 Field Squadron Sappers plaque

Commemorates all Field Squadron Sappers and explosive detection dogs of the Royal Australian Engineers (R.A.E.) who have given their lives in service.

The 1st Field Squadron R.A.E., post-Second World War, is a modern equivalent of the original Field Company of Engineers raised in the First World War. A Field Squadron is divided in troops with specialist tasks and equivalents. The battalion has varied engineer duties, but also the removal of booby traps, mines and other explosives. More recently in the Middle East operations it has played a key role in detecting Improvised Explosive Devices, often with specially trained dogs (Source: Australian War Memorial).

Delta Company 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) plaque

Dedicated to the Australians and New Zealanders who served in Delta Company of the 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) during the Vietnam War. The plaque bears the insignias of the Australian and New Zealand military services.

The battalion became known as the 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) when the two New Zealand Infantry Regiment Companies 'V' and 'W' joined it for a twelve month tour of Vietnam. It was replaced by 6RAR on 1 May 1969 and departed for Australia on 19 May. After training in Australia it went to Vietnam for a second tour in May 1971. The battalion was there during the withdrawal from South Vietnam. 

Far East Strategic Reserve plaque

Dedicated to those who served on Australian ships in South East Asia in 1955-1971. The plaque bears the insignia of the Far East Strategic Reserve (FESR), which was formed in 1955. It is also known as the British Commonwealth FESR (Source: Royal Australian Navy).

2/33rd Australian Infantry Battalion A.I.F. plaque

Dedicated to those who served in the 2/33rd Australian Infantry Battalion during the Second World War. The plaque bears the insignias of the Australian Commonwelth Military Forces and the battalion, with the motto 'Strike Hard' inscribed below.

Excerpt from the Australian War Memorial:

The 2/33rd Infantry Battalion was one of three formed in the United Kingdom on 27 June 1940 to create the 25th Infantry Brigade. The battalion's personnel were drawn from throughout the Australian force that had arrived in Britain earlier in the month and manpower shortages meant the battalion included only three rifle companies instead of the usual four. It was initially known as the 72nd Battalion and was based at Tidworth, but in October it was retitled the 2/33rd, and in the same month relocated to Colchester. It left Britain on 10 January 1941 and disembarked in Egypt on 8 March 1940. 

The battalion served in the Middle East, New Guinea and Borneo from 1941-1945. Personnel returned to Australia from 1945 and the 2/33 was disbanded in Brisbane on 12 March 1946.

Korean War plaque

Dedicated to the men and women who served in the Korean War. The plaque includes the insignia of the Association of Queensland Korea Veterans Incorporated. 

Excerpt from the Australian War Memorial:

Personnel from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Australian Regular Army (ARA) were committed soon after the Korean War began.

Australian Forces remained in Korea as part of the multi-national peacekeeping force until 1957.

29th Australian Infantry Brigade plaque

Dedicated to those who served in the 29th Australian Infantry Brigade in the Second World War. The plaque bears the insignia of the Australian Imperial Force and a simple Latin cross.

The brigade served in New Guinea and included the 15th, 42nd and 47th infantry battalions, and in time, the 11th Field Company Royal Australian Engineers and 7th Field Ambulance. 

Ex-Service Women plaque

Dedicated by the Tweed Coolangatta District NSW Ex-Services Women's Association in honour of all ex-service women. 

2/25th Australian Infantry Battalion plaque

Dedicated to those who served in the 2/25th Australian Infantry Battalion in the Second World War. On the plaque are the insignias of the Australian Commonwelth Military Forces and the battalion, with the motto 'What We Have We Hold' inscribed below.

The battalion was raised on 1 July 1940, mainly from Queensland volunteers. It trained in Darwin and was then sent to the Middle East in mid-1941. Due to the threat from Japan, it was returned to Australia in early 1942. It took part in fighting in New Guinea in 1942-1943 and 1943-1944, as well as the Borneo Campaign in mid-1945. The battalion served until 13 December 1945.

National Servicemen plaque

Dedicated to all National Servicemen who served Australia from 1951-1972. The plaque includes the colour insignia of the National Servicemen's Association. 

63 Squadron "Winnipeg Wags" plaque

Dedicated by the wireless air-gunners of the 63 Squadron, to those who lost their lives in the Second World War. The nickname "Winnipeg Wags" comes from their training ground of Winnipeg in Canada. At the top of the plaque is the insignia of the R.A.A.F.

Siege of Tobruk plaques

Two bronze plaques dedicated to the soldiers who took part in the 'Siege of Tobruk', which lasted 242 days. The men became known as 'Rats of Tobruk'. One plaque is titled the 'Siege of Tobruk' and the other is titled 'No Surrender'. 

Excerpt from the Australian War Memorial:

Between April and August 1941, around 14,000 Australian troops were besieged in Tobruk by a German-Italian army commanded by General Edwin Rommell. The garrison, commanded by Lieut General Leslie Morshead consisted of the 9th division, the 18th Brigade of the 7th Division along with four regiments of British artillery and some Indian troops.

The Nazi propagandist Lord Haw Haw (William Joyce) derided the tenacious defenders as 'rats', a term that the Australian soldiers embraced as an ironic compliment.

Inscription

Dedication plaque

This memorial walkway

was erected by the

Tweed Heads and Coolangatta

Sub Branch of the

Returned and Services League

of Australia

to assist organisations and units to

be remembered by future generations

16 April 2000

The Ode plaque

They shall not grow old

as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them 

nor the years condemn;

At the going down of the sun 

and in the morning

we will remember them.

LEST WE FORGET

2nd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment plaque

2nd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment

SECOND TO NONE

Dedicated to all who served with and in support of the Battalion.

2nd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment Association Inc.

450 Royal Australian Air Force Squadron plaque

SYRIA, EL ALAMEIN, SICILY

EGYPT, LIBYA, ITALY

450 (R.A.A.F.) SQUADRON

1941 - 1945

THE DESERT HARASSERS 

Dedicated to those who served and those who died

7th Australian Destroyer Flotilla plaque

7th AUSTRALIAN DESTROYER FLOTILLA

1939-1945

HMA SHIPS

NAPIER NIZAN NESTOR NORMAN NEPAL

CEDERE NESCIO

THEY KNEW NOT HOW TO SURRENDER

Royal Australian Regiment Association plaque

THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN

REGIMENT ASSOCIATION

IN MEMORY OF ALL SOLDIERS OF THE

REGIMENT WHO HAVE DIED IN THE SERVICE OF

AUSTRALIA

DUTY FIRST

RAASC Supply Platoons Association plaque

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY SERVICE CORPS

(RAASC) SUPPLY PLATOONS ASSOCIATION

VIETNAM - 1965 to 1972

Bien Hoa - Vungh Tau - Nui Dai

Par oneri - Equal to the Task

DEDICATED TO ALL SOLDIERS WHO SERVED IN RAASC SUPPLY PLATOONS

DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT

Lest We Forget

Royal Australian Corps of Signals plaque

'CERTA CITO'

IN REMEMBRANCE OF

THOSE MEMBERS OF THE

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN

CORPS OF SIGNALS

WHO SERVED IN THE

VIETNAM CONFLICT

1962 - 1972

7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment plaque

VII

This plaque is dedicated to the memory of those members

of

The 7th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment

who served their country well and did not come home

We will remember them

7th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment Association Inc (Qld).

3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment plaque

3rd BATTALION

THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN

REGIMENT ASSOCIATION

IN MEMORY OF ALL SOLDIERS OF THE

3rd BATTALION WHO DIED IN

THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY

1948 - 1960

1 Field Squadron Sappers plaque

1 Field Squadron Group RAE

In memory of all

1 FD SQN Sappers and

explosive detection dogs of the

Royal Australian Engineers

who gave their lives in the names of

Freedom, Human Rights and Personal Dignity

Delta Company 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) plaque

DELTA COMPANY

4RAR/NZ (ANZAC)

VIETNAM 1971-1972

IN MEMORY OF ALL MEMBERS OF

DELTA COMPANY, 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC)

BATTALION, WHO SERVED, SUFFERED,

OR DIED, IN SERVICE OF THEIR COMPANY

Far East Strategic Reserve plaque

Dedicated to those who

served HMA Ships

attached to the FESR

in South East Asia

1955 - 1971

Lest We Forget

HMA Ships 1955 - 1971 Far East Strategic Reserve

Anzac, Hawk, Quickmatch, Tobruk

Arunta, Ibis, Snipe, Vampire

Curlew, Melbourne, Stuart, Vendetta

Derwent, Parramatta, Supply, Voyager

Duchess, Quadrant, Swan, Warramunga

Gull, Queensborough, Sydney, Yarra

Quiberon, Teal

'For Freedom We Served'

2/33rd Australian Infantry Battalion A.I.F. plaque

2/33 Australian Infantry Battalion A.I.F.

Syrian Frontier, Gona

Merjayoun, Lae Road

Kokoda Trail, Shaggy Ridge

Ioribaiwa, Balikpapan

Eora Creek-Templetons Crossing, Milford Highway

England, Egypt, Syria

Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Borneo

Strike Hard

In honour of all who served and to the

eternal memory of those who did not return

Korean War plaque

THE KOREAN WAR

1950 - 1953

THE ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND KOREA

VETERANS INCORPORATED

REMEMBERS WITH PRIDE

THE MEN AND WOMEN OF AUSTRALIA'S

NAVY, ARMY, AND AIR FORCE WHO VOLUNTEERED AND

SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN THE KOREAN WAR

KIA 339 WIA 2216 POW 29

29th Australian Infantry Brigade plaque

IN MEMORY OF

THOSE WHO SERVED WITH

29th AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE

15th BN, 42nd BN, 47th BN

11 FD COY R.A.E., 7FD AME

NEW GUINEA/BOUGAINVILLE SWPA

1941 - 1945

Motto:

The difficulty we perform immediately,

The impossible sometimes it takes a little longer

Ex-Service Women plaque

IN COMMEMORATION

OF ALL

EX-SERVICE WOMEN

WHO SERVED

IN DEFENCE

OF THEIR COUNTRY

2/25th Australian Infantry Battalion plaque

In Memory of All who Served and Laid Down their Lives

Syria, Oivi, Nadzab

Merdjayoun, Gorari, Ramu Valley

Kokoda Track, Gona, Borneo

Loribaiwa, Lae, Balikpapan

2/25 Australian Infantry BN A.I.F.

1-7-40 13-12-45

What We Have We Hold

National Servicemen plaque

GOLD COAST AND DISTRICTS SUB-BRANCH

IN REMEMBRANCE OF ALL

AUSTRALIAN

NATIONAL SERVICEMEN

1951 - 1972

FOR SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY

63 Squadron "Winnipeg Wags" plaque

R.A.A.F. WORLD WAR 2

63 SQUADRON "WINNIPEG WAGS"

Erected By Wireless - Air Gunners

Trained in Winnipeg, Canada, and served in R.A.F.

and R.A.A.F. Squadrons on Bomber, Coastal and

Transport Commands in the United Kingdom,

Burma and South West Pacific.

This plaque is dedicated to those who served

and those who gave their lives.

Siege of Tobruk plaque 1

"Siege of Tobruk"

In memory of the Rats of Tobruk — the 9th Australian Division

who gave their lives during the siege, which lasted 242 days.

It was here that Corporal J.H. Edmondson of the 2/17th Battalion

became the first Australian soldier during World War II

to win the Victoria Cross.

The defence of Tobruk by the Australian Imperial Forces, the

Royal Australian Navy and the armed forces from Britain and

the Polish Brigade was the first successful resistance of

German Land Forces in World War II.

Siege of Tobruk plaque 2

North Africa — Middle East April 10th 1941 to Dec 7th 1941

242 days.

"No Surrender"

Tobruk, a port on the North African Coast, was the scene of

the longest siege in British military history, allied

casualties were 776 killed 2057 wounded. The overall

commander was Major General Morshead and the British

traitor and German propagandist Lord Haw Haw likened the

garrison to 'Rats Caught in a trap'. The troops so liked the

phrase that they now proudly bear the sobriquet

"THE RATS OF TOBRUK".

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Sidebar
Address
Chris Cunningham Park
Wharf Street
Tweed Heads NSW 2485
Local Government Area
Tweed Shire
Setting
Garden/park
Location status
Original location
Memorial type
Board/roll/plaque/tablet
Walkway
Recorded by
Graham Wilson
Year of construction
2000
Dedication date
16 April 2000
Conflict/s
Second World War, 1939–45
Korean War, 1950–53
Malayan Emergency, 1950–60
Indonesian Confrontation, 1963–66
Vietnam War, 1962–75
Peacekeeping, 1947–present
All conflicts
Materials
Bronze
Concrete