5 August 2014 commemorations
At 11pm (London time) on Tuesday 4 August 1914, the British ultimatum to Germany expired and Great Britain was at war. Due to the time difference, the news was received in Australia the following day. Upon receipt of telegrammed advice from the then Prime Minister, Joseph Cook, the Queensland Premier Digby Denham responded on 5 August 1914 stating ‘Queensland unreservedly places all her resources at service of (the) Commonwealth and mother country’.
To honour this significant event in Queensland’s history, and to mark the start of the Queensland Anzac Centenary, former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman read the ‘European War’ section of the 1914 Queensland Parliament Hansard records in Parliament at 9.30am on 5 August 2014.
Following the reading, a ceremony on the Speaker’s Green allowed guests to reflect, share and learn about our military history and how it shaped who we are today.
