Memorial drive planned for Russell

Memorial drive planned for Russell from the bay journal.
A memorial drive is being seriously considered for Russell Island.

The concept is meant to complement the Russell Island RSL plans to greatly expand its club facilities at Cuphea Street to meet growing membership needs.

Key to the club expansion is to add a second storey, giving sweeping views eastward over a rural landscape, Canaipa Passage and the vegetated dunes of North Stradbroke Island from an upstairs function area.

But spoiling that view at present is Cuphea Street, a hot, barren and windswept blot on that landscape Originally laid out as a crop duster landing strip, little has been done with the awkward 50m wide and 400m long space except to bitumen a central strip for traffic. The only other use has been for remembrance ceremonies at Anzac, Armistice and Long Tan Days.

"It is perfectly set up for becoming a remembrance or memorial drive because it is such a wide avenue" said Club President Malcolm Humphries.

Culphea Street was designed as an airstrip
Two months ago a subcommittee was formed led by John Coupe to put a proposal for redevelopment before the Redland City Council.

On Friday, Mayor Melva Hobson and Councillor Barbara Townsend, intrigued by the possibilities, did a site visit.

They wanted to walk the ground to understand what the Club was planning and how the Council could help.

They pointed up the issues that expansion of the club would bring, such as the need for more car parking.

John Coupe countered that the Club has, for many years, worked on providing adequate car parking for an expanded club by increasing its holdings of adjacent blocks.

Also under discussion was the need to protect the views of residents on the street when considering what kind of plantings should be done.

"The right type of plantings is going to be critical to the success of our plans" said John Coupe.
Part of the plans is for the stage two of the War Memorial fronting the street. This would be an intimate memorial garden with seating. The wall of the memorial will be opened for plaques to deceased ex-servicemen. Photo shows Malcolm Humphries (left) explaining the idea to Mayor Melva Hobson on right. Eric Short, member of the memorial drive committee, is at centre.

"And While it is a lightly used thoroughfare, consideration has to be given to the needs of traffic, especially at intersections."

Both Councillor and Mayor agreed that the project was a worthwhile undertaking but that there were a lot of hurdles to be cleared.

Malcolm Humphries said there were many reasons why the Club wanted to undertake the memorial drive project--the first and most important to remind us all of the sacrifices that made what we have today possible.

Nancy Olsson, President of the Russell Island Association, who was also present during the walk-around, added "From a community point of view, the additional function space and memorial drive will provide an excellent venue for special occasions like weddings and other significant island events.

"The revamped RSL will also provide visitors to the island with an opportunity to see why we islanders love it so."

But it was Malcolm Humphries that summarized the situation: "It is a great view and location, and we should make the most of it"