FOLLOWING an invitation from the vast Queensland outback shire of Bulloo, three Manning Valley men, Rodney O'Regan OAM VA, Geoff Kinchin and Warwick Murray, travelled to the border town of Hungerford for the historic unveiling of its first memorial at its first Remembrance Day ceremony.
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Rodney was invited as he is a regular visitor to the nearby (in outback terms) town of Thargomindah, where he spent five years of his youth working at Bulloo Downs cattle station. This year he attended Thargomindah's Anzac Day ceremonies in an official capacity with the Australian Light Horse, and an invitation to come back to the shire for Remembrance Day followed.
"I asked Warwick to be the bugler and Geoff to be the piper, as there's no-one out there who plays those instruments, let alone play adult dress-ups," Rodney half-jokes.
Indeed, you would be hard pressed to find a bugler and a piper in a town that has a total population of 14
With numerous thunderstorms in the area, wild pigs, goats and kangaroos on the road, negotiation of the 230 kilometres of wet red soil road from Bourke proved to be a unique adventure for the men.
In true outback fashion, people travelled huge distances from outlying stations and towns to go to the unveiling ceremony with over 100 people attending, including Rodney's Vietnam veteran mates from Dubbo.
Rodney said the highlight of the event was putting the NSW State flag, provided by Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead, and the Queensland State flag, on the gates of the border where the ceremony took place.
The town has never had its own flag pole, war memorial, or Anzac or Remembrance Day ceremonies, so this was certainly a historic event.
Along with his mates and his kit, Rodney also took nurses uniforms from the Wingham Museum, and a uniform for a local to dress up as a Light Horseman.
Celebrations continued well into the night with the local councillor declaring an open bar at the local hotel for the visitors.
In all, the trip covered 3100 kilometres, but due to the huge welcome given by the locals all three men considered it well worthwhile.
Rodney kindly provided many photographs which can be seen in an online gallery at www.winghamchronicle.com.au.