Historical society tells diggers’ stories

THE Torquay and District Historical Society will celebrate the culmination of six years of effort next month when they release a booklet about World War I diggers from the Torquay area.
The booklet about the 88 diggers, together with stories of some of the great battles of World War I, has just been printed and will be officially launched after the Armistice Day service at Point Danger on November 11.
Torquay and District Historical Society president David Marshall said the society recognised in 2013 that nobody in Torquay and District knew the names of the local diggers who fought overseas during World War I.
“The only people who knew were the descendants of those World War I diggers and few people knew who these descendants were.
“As Torquay was one of the few regional towns throughout Australia not to have a memorial to their World War I diggers, our society decided that their names had to be found, particularly as the Centenary of the landing of the Anzacs at Gallipoli was happening on Anzac Day, April 25, 2015.
“In our archives, we were fortunate to find a microfiche of 30,000 males and females who enlisted at Geelong from 1914 to 1918. Fortunately, we also had in our possession a microfiche reader. As a result in 2013 the research began to find our Torquay diggers.”
After identifying the 88 names from Torquay and District – comprising Torquay itself as well as Connewarre, Mt. Duneed, Freshwater Creek, Paraparap and Bellbrae (which was known as Jan Juc until 1922) – the society then successfully applied for a grant to have a bronze plaque installed at the war memorial at Point Danger before the Anzac Day centenary, which was done with the assistance of then-Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson.
Lest We Forget: 1914-1918 will be distributed, free of charge to local schools, the library, RSL branch, the shire offices, the descendants of the diggers and local residents.
Anyone wishing to receive a booklet should ring president David Marshall on 0412 285 653. Copies will be available after the Armistice Day service.
The society’s rooms will be open at noon on November 11 for those wishing to visit following the service.