A NEW version of the Duncan Chapman statue was unveiled recently at the Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial in Maryborough’s Queen’s Park.
Fraser Coast Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott said the original sculpture was damaged during the 2022 floods, with the Queensland Government providing $100,000 to replace the landmark statue.
“The life-sized statue commemorates Maryborough born and bred Lieutenant Duncan Chapman, who was the first soldier ashore at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915,” he said.
“Since it was first installed in 2015, the statue has been visited by hundreds of thousands of people.
“It has been the catalyst for the Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial, a world-class memorial that takes visitors on the journey of the ANZACS from Anzac Cove at Gallipoli through to the Western Front
battle theatres.
“The memorial is educational and poignant and has become a must-visit attraction for tourists and residents alike. It is fantastic to have received funding from the Queensland Government to create and install this new statue, and I want to thank them for their support.”
Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said, “After flooding in 2022 damaged the Duncan Chapman memorial sculpture, the Queensland Government has delivered funding to infrastructure and memorial projects across the state.”
“On the birthday of Duncan, we are pleased to unveil the new statue,” Mr Saunders said.
Gallipoli to Armistice Committee Chair Nancy Bates said the new statue closely resembled the original version, but more scrutiny of available photographs allowed sculptor Mark Snell to contour facial features to a closer likeness.
“We are grateful for the support of Mr Saunders, the State Government and the Fraser Coast Regional Council for the way they have backed this community initiative,” she said.
The new statue has been sculpted by Lavaworx of the Sunshine Coast, creators of the Lighthorse statue in Pialba, the Wounded Soldier in the Gallipoli to Armistice Trail and other works in the region.
The previous Duncan Chapman statue will be placed under cover in a yet-to-be-determined location to be preserved for future generations.
Maryborough residents raised funds for the original statue, which was unveiled on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, with the new statue unveiled today, 136 years after Lieutenant Chapman was born.
