Launch of Adopt a Digger
Maroochydore, QLD: Local resident, Chrissy Fletcher, today launches the Sunshine Coastâs Adopt-a-Digger project, www,adoptadigger.org. This is an invitation to all local residents, schools and clubs to research the history of local WW1 Diggers so they may be honoured and remembered for generations to come.
Adopt a Digger Project Founder and Project Manager, Mrs Chrissy Fletcher, said: âIn four years time, Australia will be celebrating the centenary of Australiaâs involvement in World War 1. Yet thereâs so much we donât know about the lives of our local diggers, their military service and how they contributed to the fabric of society if they returned. This community project may be our last chance to ensure their stories are captured, and represents a significant opportunity to contribute to the historical military records of the Sunshine Coast region.â
Sunshine Coast residents are encouraged to visit the website and identify local diggers. They are then asked to research their stories and upload the findings to the website. The website provides detailed instructions on how the research can be carried out and uploaded to the database. There are links to Australian repositories such as the Australian War Memorial and National Archives Australia and to battle histories, regimental histories and additional reading material.
âBy 2014, our goal is for the histories of the 1,500 Sunshine Coast WW1 diggers contained in the database to be completed, with stories, photographs and memorabilia uploaded to the website. This will be a valuable resource for historians, teachers, researchers, descendants and school students as we prepare for the WW1 Centenary. Personally, I hope that this project will bring the Sunshine Coast community together, and engender a sense of pride and respect for our local diggers,â said Mrs Fletcher.
Founder and manager, Chrissy Fletcher brings a wealth of talent and experience to the Adopt a Digger Project.
Maroochydore resident
Historian (Associate Diploma in Local & Applied History) UNE
Genealogist with 30 years experience, teaching, researching, lecturing
Author, âArthursleigh: A history of the property 1819-1979â, published 2002, âA Theatrical Life: The many faces of Oscar Ascheâ, published 2004
The Adopt a Digger Project is being run on a purely voluntary basis and would warmly welcome any sponsorship or financial assistance from local clubs and businesses.
Adopt a Digger Project Founder and Project Manager, Mrs Chrissy Fletcher, said: âIn four years time, Australia will be celebrating the centenary of Australiaâs involvement in World War 1. Yet thereâs so much we donât know about the lives of our local diggers, their military service and how they contributed to the fabric of society if they returned. This community project may be our last chance to ensure their stories are captured, and represents a significant opportunity to contribute to the historical military records of the Sunshine Coast region.â
Sunshine Coast residents are encouraged to visit the website and identify local diggers. They are then asked to research their stories and upload the findings to the website. The website provides detailed instructions on how the research can be carried out and uploaded to the database. There are links to Australian repositories such as the Australian War Memorial and National Archives Australia and to battle histories, regimental histories and additional reading material.
âBy 2014, our goal is for the histories of the 1,500 Sunshine Coast WW1 diggers contained in the database to be completed, with stories, photographs and memorabilia uploaded to the website. This will be a valuable resource for historians, teachers, researchers, descendants and school students as we prepare for the WW1 Centenary. Personally, I hope that this project will bring the Sunshine Coast community together, and engender a sense of pride and respect for our local diggers,â said Mrs Fletcher.
Founder and manager, Chrissy Fletcher brings a wealth of talent and experience to the Adopt a Digger Project.
Maroochydore resident
Historian (Associate Diploma in Local & Applied History) UNE
Genealogist with 30 years experience, teaching, researching, lecturing
Author, âArthursleigh: A history of the property 1819-1979â, published 2002, âA Theatrical Life: The many faces of Oscar Ascheâ, published 2004
The Adopt a Digger Project is being run on a purely voluntary basis and would warmly welcome any sponsorship or financial assistance from local clubs and businesses.