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5 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT MARK NOLAN
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DIVISION 1 BARRY BARNES DIVISION 3 TRUDY TSCHUI
Our military history PETER MCCULLAGH
things you may not
know about
Mark Nolan PETER MCCULLAGH
TIMOTHY is actually Mark’s christian name. Timothy Mark Nolan. Always been called Mark. This has confused many residents over the years, and is a great pub trivia question. In the 1960s Mark served as an Altar Boy for 7 years. Both he and Marsha still practice strong faith at Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Innisfail. Mark’s NRL team is the Parramatta EELS. The mighty Blue and Yellow. A supporter for the past 50 years, Mark has enjoyed the heady heights of Parramatta in the 70s and 80s through to the tougher times more recently. “There’s a bottle of Parra Port ready to crack when they win the next premiership.” Unfortunately that bottle could be a vintage port by then. At times they can say that politics can be ‘dog-dirty’ however Mark takes that literally. As a greyhound trainer for more than 25 years, Mark has experienced success with the ‘dish-lickers’ in Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns - including winning the Cairns Cup. Mark did win Greyhound of the Year in 1979, although reliable sources did explain it was not Mark but actually Bill’s Galore that won (the greyhound’s name) and again in 2000 with Heads Together. Both Mark and wife Marsha care for a retired greyhound, Angry Alice who was successful in Brisbane from a few starts. Marsha played an essential role in the greyhound Team Nolan, as catcher and Vet along with being a steadying influence on the trainer (Mark). Later this year, COVID-19 permitting the annual Mayor’s Challenge will be held. Atherton Roosers v Innisfail Leprechauns. There will be divided loyalty in the Nolan household: Marsha being a former Atherton girl and still a mad-keen Roosters fan will be barracking for them, whilst Mark will be passionately cheering on the Leps. Social distancing will be observed, 1.5metres apart, but this will be due to football rivalry and not COVID-19.
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At dawn April 25, 1915 troops from Australia, New Zealand, Britain and France stormed ashore at Gallipoli Cove, in what has been described as one of the bloodiest senseless battles during the Great War. This campaign defined forever Australia and New Zealand and indelibly carved April 25 into the foundations of Australia. There were 60 000 Australians at Gallipoli, 26 000 were casualties, 7594 died, in all it was a dark day for the Allied forces. Since that fateful day, Australians have never shied away from international conflicts. Our men and women enlisted or were conscripted and served with honour during many military campaigns throughout our short history as a nation. ANZAC Day serves as a time to reflect and honour the thousands who have served and collectively defined this nation as a fair, just-nation, committed to peace and willing to extend our hand to help our international neighbours. This Saturday, we will gather not at dawn to remember, Australians will line our driveways, standing stoically in silence, quiet reverent peace to pay homage to our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, our forebears who have suffered and built the nation we inhabit today. A nation that has suffered far greater than what our current situation challenges us and a nation that deserves to remember those who serve. The ground swell of support for the ”Driveways at Dawn” campaign in Far North Queensland is now championed by the RSL as well as leading media organisations, including the Cassowary Coast Independent News. Cassowary Coasters are encouraged to show their respect, to remember those who currently serve or have served. Stand in our lounge room, on our balconies, or driveways, 6am this Saturday and spend a moment in quiet reflection, lest we forget. Although we are restricted to essential travel only, Far North Queensland has several sites of great military significance. Closest to home is the small township of El Arish on the Cassowary Coast. Named after the city of Arish in Egypt, where the Australian Light Horsemen saw action. El Arish was founded in 1921 as a soldier settlement town. Settlement towns were areas of land specifically set aside for returning service men. They were able to buy or lease the land on the privisio they remained on the land for five years. The Atherton War Cemetery. This war cemetery adjoins the Atherton General Cemetery on corner of the Kennedy Highway and Rockley Road. The graves are in three plots, with a Cross of Sacrifice standing centrally at the far end.
The area between Atherton and Cairns was used extensively as a training ground for Australian troops involved in war time action in New Guinea, Bougainville and later landings at Aitape-Wewak, Tarakan, Labuan and Balikpapan. Australia’s 6th, 7th and 9th Divisions were based in the Atherton region and from here the RAAF struck at the Japanese forces who were applying pressure from the north and northwest. There are 151 soldiers and 12 airmen of the Australian Forces, plus one member of the Young Men’s Christian Association buried within the war cemetery. The Cairns War Cemetery. The war cemetery, located within the Cairns Cemetery, Martyn Street, Cairns, contains the graves of 70 soldiers, 17 airmen and 10 sailors of the Australian Forces and one Dutch sailor. After the first Japanese raid on Darwin on 19 February 1942, a shuttle service of small
The Afghanistan Avenue of Honour located in Yungaburra was opened and dedicated in 2013. The Avenue of Honour serves as a living memorial to the men, women and explosive detection dogs that served during the Afghanistan campaign. Honouring not just the 42 serving defence members who died during the period 2002 – 2014 in Afghanistan but also the 261 service men and women wounded and the 10 working dogs who in many cases died in the course of their duties detecting explosives and protecting defence personnel. The Afghanistan Avenue of Honour is a special retreat, offering peace and tranquillity for family, friends and ex-service men and women. Located between Cairns and Townsville is the small seafront town of Cardwell, travel 800 km east and you will find the resting place of the USS Lexington.
merchant ships between Cairns and Darwin was introduced. Cairns was also an important air base from which numbers 11 and 20 Catalina General Reconnaissance Bomber Squadrons operated. There are 136 war graves throughout the cemetery. Rocky Creek War Memorial Park is dedicated to those who served at the Rocky Creek Australian Army Hospital or the troops who trained or provided unit support during World War Two. The Memorial Park was established in 1995 and the first commemorative plaques were dedicated on Victory in the Pacific Day August 15, 1995. The site is set adjoining the Kennedy Highway. The Atherton Tablelands played a vital role as a location for an Allied Military Hospital complex. At the time it was recognised as the largest military hospital in the Southern Hemisphere, with approximately 2000 staff and treating approximately 60,000 Australian soldiers.
On May 8, 1942 the USS Lexingtom came under prolonged attack by aircraft of the Japanese Imperial Navy. The Battle for the Coral Sea was unique at that time. The first naval battle where the combatants were not in clear view of each other. It was an air to sea battle. Each year, ex-service members travel to Cardwell to remember and honour those who died in this battle. The Memorial located on Coral Sea Drive, Cardwell acknowledges those who perished during this battle but also those who served. It is a grand setting, leafy and peaceful, perfect to reflect and remember and always worth a visit. The establishment of the Memorial has been the passion of locals from the area, Anne Meeling and Noelene Bryne. There may not be a formal commemoration this year, though as the organisers and local plan for the 80th anniversary in 2022, this memorial will forever provide solace to all who served in naval forces. When the COVID-19 restriction are lifted, please do not wait until ANZAC Day to remember again, take a weekend drive, visit Cardwell and the Tablelands, pop through to Cairns for a weekend. Explore, pause and reflect upon members who paid the price. Remember, you visiting and paying homage respects their sacrifice. It does not glorify war, just an opportunity to remember what we have, and the price paid for what we hold so precious. Perhaps elsewhere in Australia or maybe the world someone just like you is visiting the many memorials honouring the thousands of Australian who died in the Pacific, New Guinea, North Africa or Europe, and just like you, they care, they remember and they will never forget.
PHOTOS: Wall of Remembrance - Rocky Creek War Memorial Park (middle left), The Afghanistan Avenue of Honour (above - Supplied Yungaburra Afghanistan Avenue of Honour)) Battle of the Coral Sea Commemoration, 2018 (left)
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New Mayor, Mark Nolan
It’s a long a winding road….. CONTINUED PG3
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‘TEAM NOLAN’ Mark Nolan and his rock – wife Marsha.