17 Dec 1915 - 'Waratah' recruitment march
On 17 December 1915 the "Waratah" recruitment march arrived in Sydney.
In late 1915 and early 1916 a particular response to the call for more volunteers was conceived of largely by members of the New South Wales public. Eight recruitment, or ‘snowball’, marches as they were popularly known, travelled from major rural centres through countless townships, towards Sydney – stirring up patriotic and enthusiastic support as they went. Information about the organisation of some of these marches has been identified in NSW State archives.
...Commencing in the South Coast town of Nowra, the ‘Waratahs’ snowball march started for Sydney on 30 November 1915. Beginning with 50 volunteers, the march travelled along the coast, primarily via the Princes Highway. After a final night’s camping at Kogarah, the march including 120 volunteers, arrived on a rainy 17 December 1915 in Sydney, where they were addressed by Premier Holman in Macquarie Street.
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