FUNDING TO RESTORE MARYBOROUGH’S NASHOS MEMORIAL

Tucked away behind the Maryborough War Memorial, a small monument commemorates the service of the Nashos, the 314,000 young Australians who were called up for compulsory military service between 1951 and 1972.

“Nashos were conscripted into the Army, Navy, and Air Force and were deployed in various conflict zones, including Borneo, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam,” Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said today.

“The Nashos made a huge contribution to Australia’s military activities, with 15,000 conscripted men serving in Vietnam, where 200 were killed in action and 1200 were wounded.”

The Nashos monument in Maryborough was installed in 2014, and the National Serviceman’s Association of Queensland has been awarded funding of $750 from the Australian Government’s Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program 2023-24 to restore the memorial that honours these brave Australians.

“The Saluting Their Service Grants Program is funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to support projects and activities that commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s military personnel in wars, conflicts, and peace operations,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The Nashos were young men whose lives and future plans were uprooted when they were sent for compulsory military training, and many were then sent into wars and conflict zones.”

“It is fitting that we have a memorial in Maryborough that commemorates the sacrifices these young men made for their country,” Mr O’Brien said.