“COO-EE” was the call that went out as part of the legendary recruitment marches for World War I.
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And it is a call that is again being used for the planned centenary re-enactment of the Waratah South Coast Recruitment March in November/December this year to attract volunteers to take part in the march.
Following as close as possible to what happened 100 years ago, the re-enactment will start in Nowra on Sunday, November 29 and will finish in Sydney on Sunday, December 1.
Waratah March Re-Enactment Committee chairman Clyde Poulton said with the march now just three months away it was time to start “enlisting” the help of volunteers to actually take part in the re-enactment.
“It is appropriate we again put out the ‘Coo-ee’, traditionally a call to mates, for volunteers to take part,” Mr Poulton said.
“They [the original Waratahs] were a young band of men who stood up and volunteered for their country.
“And that’s what we want again, a band of young men.”
Mr Poulton said a lot of people didn’t realise that many of the local men who volunteered and took part in the Waratah March were only very young.
“They were mainly 17 and 18-year-olds, through to 21-22 and 23 and that’s the sort of group we would like to attract again just to make the event authentic,” he said.
Mr Poulton said he would like to have around 20 marchers to represent the area.
“We are appealing to young people from the services, service or sporting clubs, or volunteer groups to join this select group,” he said.
“They don’t all have to march but we would like at least 20 at each event being held in the towns and villages along the way.”
The march will leave Nowra and hold services and meetings along the route just like the original Waratahs did.
“Most of the events are on weekends, however some are weekdays,” Mr Poulton said.
The planned re-enactment initially ran into trouble with the Roads and Maritime Services, which indicated it would not give permission for the march, and allow the Princes Highway on the southbound Shoalhaven River bridge to be closed to re-create the superb historical photo of the Waratahs starting their march in 1915.
But after representations from committee members and a backlash from the community, the RMS relented and gave permission, albeit with strict conditions.
To commemorate the centenary, local historian Alan Clark is also reworking his book The Waratahs.
Anyone who would like to take part in the centenary re-enactment of the Waratah March can contact Clyde Poulton on 4421 2644, 0412 642 848 or email clyde@clydepoulton.com.au.