THE Nambucca Heads RSL sub-Branch, in partnership with Nambucca Valley Council, will rededicate the memorial Rats of Tobruk Walk next week.
The path, which winds from Gordon Park up to Fraser Street opposite Woolworths in Nambucca Heads, will officially retain its meaningful name, “Rats of Tobruk Walk”, following significant commitment by Council, community consultation and veteran support.
The rededication service will take place at 11am on Friday, 28 November at Gordon Park, Nambucca Heads, and is open to the public.
A special invitation is extended to descendants and families of the Rats of Tobruk.
Veterans, their relatives and dependents are encouraged to wear medals as appropriate.
First dedicated in the 1990s to mark the 50th anniversary of the Siege of Tobruk, the walkway once featured a commemorative plaque and signage.
Sadly, due to repeated acts of vandalism, these elements were relocated to the Nambucca Heads Cenotaph, and the significance of the path faded from public memory until now.
As part of a recent Council initiative to upgrade local walkways and public spaces, the opportunity arose to reaffirm the path’s commemorative value.
With endorsement from the local veterans’ community, Council commissioned Anna Fisher of Fisher Design and Architecture to create a new sign for the Walk, marking a proud new chapter for this site of reflection.
Between April and December 1941, some 14,000 Australian soldiers, along with British and Indian troops, were besieged in Tobruk, Libya, by the formidable German–Italian forces led by General Rommel.
Enduring relentless attacks, searing desert heat, and extreme deprivation, the Australian garrison, dubbed the Rats of Tobruk by Nazi propaganda, embraced the label as a badge of honour.
Their resistance marked Germany’s first major setback in WWII and reshaped the course of the war in North Africa.
Australian casualties during the siege were heavy, with over 800 killed, more than 2,100 wounded, and nearly 950 taken prisoner.
By Mick BIRTLES
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