¹A
meeting of women from Port Pirie and District was first convened in the Port
Pirie Town Hall by the Mayoress Mrs. M.E. Goode in 1919 to propose a Women's
Memorial to the Soldiers of Port Pirie and District who had fallen in the Great
War. Two alternative designs were tabled; a rough stone cross or some piece or
group of statuary bronze.
With
that object in view it was agreed to raise the sum of not less than £500.
Committee officers were elected and it was decided to invite women to
contribute 1/ per week each for a period of 10 weeks. The town was divided into
sections and collectors were appointed for each section, by which means it was
hoped everyone would be reached.
By
April 1922, the fund amounted to £162 5/7 and it had now been agreed that the
memorial should take the form of an obelisk, and that it be enclosed by a chain
fence and white pillars. The Mayor kindly undertook to procure an estimate of
the cost which was expected to run into £200.
 |
| The Women's Soldiers Memorial - Memorial Park, Port Pirie |
Lady
Bridges opened the memorial on 14th October 1924 by stating "You women of
Port Pirie, I appreciate the great honour you have bestowed upon me in asking
me to unveil your Memorial. Some of you have had great privilege of knowing
these men - these gallant men, who fought with such courage, and who gave their
lives and it is again your privilege to have possession of their memory; a
possession which no one can take from you. All you can now do is to show that
fine spirit of courage, devotion and self-sacrifice that they showed."
"I
quote you these words - 'And they transfigured, came back, Secure from change
in their high hearted way; Beautiful evermore with the rays of morn on their
white shields of expectation. An impressive unveiling ceremony included
renditions of "England's Battle Hymn" and "Beyond the
Sunset", an invocatory prayer, with proceedings closing with the
Benediction.
Sources:
¹The Port Pirie Women's Soldiers Memorial
²1923-Womens Soldier Memorial, Port Pirie Hospital and Nurses Homes in
the background.
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