Memorial to be built at Beerwah Golf Club for ANZAC Day 2025
By Sonia Isaacs
AN ANZAC memorial set to be established at Beerwah Golf Club has re-ignited interest in the club’s origins as a district memorial golf club.
Earlier this year, the club was successful in securing federal funding of $10,000 from the Department of Veterans Affairs, “Saluting their Service” grant initiative.
The grant will enable the club to erect a war memorial structure near the gardens of the Pro shop with the aim to engage local suppliers to complete the work.
Club board member, Allan Warry, said in applying for the grant, he was reminded of the historical significance of the club and its original name as the ‘Beerwah and District Memorial Club’.
Mr Warry said he was keen to find out more about the origins of the golf club, and how it came to be named as a memorial club.
He said he suspected it had something to do with its connection with the what was then the Beerwah-Peachester RSL that was previously located on Beerwah Parade.
“I’m keen to find out more about why the golf club was originally named that way. I’ve heard different stories; one of which was that the original RSL club was unable to serve alcohol as a sub-branch; and so the community banded together to set up a golf club that they could buy alcohol from nearby. Back then you could walk straight from the RSL sub branch to the golf club grounds,” he said.
Mr Warry, who is also a Vietnam Veteran, said he is very pleased that the club would be getting a dedicated memorial. He also acknowledged the assistance of both the Beerwah and District Sub Branch RSL and Glasshouse Country Sub Branch RSL executive members who supported the application, along with Federal MP, Andrew Wallace.
“I’m really happy we have been able to secure this funding. We’ve been talking about doing something like this for a few years now, so it was great to be able to construct a local memorial,“ he explained.
Beerwah Golf Club General Manager, Tracy Odgers, said the grant process took some time as it required an application to the Australian Defence Force for permission to use Defence Force badges and emblems.
“The club would like to acknowledge our board member and Vietnam Veteran, Allan Warry, for the initiative taken in applying for this grant,
“Al has been the driving force behind our recent Anzac Day Ceremonies that the club has held for the last three years,” Ms Odgers said.
She said although all official correspondence for the club featured the full name of Beerwah and District Memorial Club, most people in the community just knew the community club as Beerwah Golf Club.
She said the memorial grant had prompted recent discussions about possibly amplifying the club’s original name in signage and logos- however, that was a decision that the board and club members would have further talks on.
She said Beerwah Golf Club was founded in 1968 following public meetings at what was then the Beerwah-Peachester RSL, which was subsequently rented as a temporary club house with the first tee located behind the RSL.
“We can assume this connection to the RSL contributed to the decision on the club being named Beerwah and District Memorial Golf Club,” Ms Odgers said.
The memorial will commemorate all servicemen and woman, and their military service, with particular focus on those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice via a memorial plaque.
Construction on the new ANZAC memorial will commence over the coming weeks and will be finalised for the 2025 ANZAC day celebrations.
