Community & Business
24 July, 2025
Malanda RSL remembers Korean Vets and Women’s Land Army
THIS Sunday marks the anniversary of the Korean War Armistice signing (27 July 1950) to end three years of fighting by Australian troops on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the formation of the Australian Women’s Land Army.
To mark both, the Malanda RSL sub-branch will hold a service at the Eacham Memorial Gates in Malanda between 10.30am and 11.15am.
Organisers said various VIP guests will attend, including special guest William Gully, a 99-year-old Korean veteran from Atherton.
Members of the public are invited to join relatives of Korean veterans and the Land Army to remember Australian lives lost to war.
The Korean War started on 25th June, 1950, and 21 nations committed troops, aircraft, ships and medical units to the defence of South Korea after its invasion.
Over 17,000 Australians served in the war, of which 340 were killed, 1,216 were wounded and a further 340 were prisoners of war.
Also on the 27 July, 1942, the Australian Women’s Land Army, was formed and endorsed by Federal Cabinet as Australia’s “Fourth Service”.
The AWLA was developed to meet the labour shortages in the rural sector during WWII, and had a huge presence on the Tablelands.
Numbers peaked at 3,421 members, who worked an average of 48 hours a week.
The Fourth Service was disbanded on 31 Dec 1945.
Organisers said that after Sunday’s ceremony, everyone was welcome to meet at the Big Pub for some “Camaraderie”.
