Anzac Memorial Park, Townsville, 1938

News of the day

Townsville Daily Bulletin
29 November 1938

DR. RYAN. Visit to Cenotaph.

The new Bishop of Townsville, the Right Rev. Hugh E. Ryan, made his first public appearance since his enthronement on Sunday when he placed a wreath on the Cenotaph In Anzac Memorial Park on Monday. Dr. Ryan In company with the Archbishop of Brisbane, Most Rev. J. Duhig, and the visiting suffragan-Bishops of Rockhampton and Toowoomba (Dr. Hayes and Dr. Roper), and the VlcarApostollc of Cooktoun, Right Rev. J. Heavey, attended a concert at the Wintergarden Theatre, where he was welcomed by the children of the Catholic schools In Townsville.

At 12.15 p.m., the episcopal party were driven to The Strand and, escorted by Rev. Father Sweeney, Adm.. Bishop Ryan walked to the Cenotaph and laid a wreath In the presence of a guard of honor formed by returned soldiers. Bugler Pirie then sounded the Last Post. The solemn tribute was also witnessed by a large gathering of citizens.

Mr. J. S. Bartlett. President of the Townsville sub-branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A., expressed the thanks of his organisation to Dr. Ryan for his action in paying this silent tribute to their glorious dead. He assured Bishop Ryan that his kind thought was appreciated by the League, particularly In view of the fact that It marked his first public appearance in his Diocese.

Dr. Ryan, In reply, expressed his thanks to the League for the opportunity it had given him to pay a tribute to the glorious Australian dead. In that great catastrophe that was the World War they had laid down their lives readily, and it was a noble sacrifice. He had never for gotten those who were numbered I among the Diggers, those who had fallen and those who remained, ever since he became a priest. He appreciated the opportunity given him to remember those who by their sacrifice established such a glorious tradition for Australia.

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