1. REVEILLE 8
NEWS
AT LAST, A SYDNEY MEMORIAL TO
THE FORGOTTEN WAR
A long-held dream to build a special
memorial in Sydney to those who died in
the Korean War was realised on July 26
when a ceremony was held to dedicate
a unique tribute in slate, stone, steel
and bronze in Moore Park. For Reveille,
Alexandra Gatfield filed this report.
Although the 136 steel and bronze hibiscus
flowers do not move in the cool winter
breeze in Sydney’s Moore Park, they
certainly do not lack beauty or presence.
They, along with one unopened bud
representative of the unknown soldier, are
a powerful and important reminder of the
trying, arduous experiences of Australian
and Korean soldiers who fought in the war
in Korea between 1950 and 1953. They
pay tribute to those who lost their lives
in that gruelling war, with the number of
flowers planted in this garden of eternal
remembrance indicating the number of
men from NSW who fell in Korea.
On the eve of the 56th anniversary of the
ceasefire that put an end to the “forgotten
war”, it begs the question of why it has
taken this long to dedicate a memorial to
those who did not make it home. As State
President Don Rowe said on this rainy
Sunday morning, it was a long journey to
get the memorial off the ground. After
the Australian and Korean War Veterans
Shrine/Monument Association came
together in 2006 with the guidance of
Harry Spicer, the project was approved by
then Premier Morris Iemma, and from
there the development of this site of
remembrance began. The result is a striking
memorial which has brought with it the
recognition and respect owed after all this
time to those who fought and died on
Above: Korea’s Minister for Patriots and
Veterans Yang Kim (centre) meets Korean and
Australian veterans after the ceremony
Left: Australian veterans of the Korean War
admire the steel and bronze flowers at the heart
of the memorial