The Peacemaker
If there's a theme to this set of shots today, it is Colonialism. Until Federation on January 1, 1901, when the Australian Constitution came into force, Tasmania and five other self-governing colonies saw themselves as the most loyal servants of the British Empire.
Nowhere in Launceston is this "servitude" more clearly shown than right here at the King Edward VII statue in Royal Park. Edward reigned from 1901-1910, following in the footsteps of the great Matriarch of the British Empire, Queen Victoria.
There are two things of note in this shot (which is best viewed enlarged). (1) On the plinth we read "The Peacemaker". Sadly, within less than two years of the dedication of this memorial to the late king, young men were off to the other side of the world to die for king and country.
(2) Can you read who it was who dedicated this statue? You'll know the name and the organisation.
Lieutenant General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB, KStJ, DL, was a British Army officer, writer, founder and first Chief Scout of the world-wide Boy Scout Movement, and founder, with his sister Agnes, of the world-wide Girl Guide / Girl Scout Movement.
It would have been a great honour for Launceston to have such a distinguished visitor. The first rally of Scouts was in 1909 at Crystal Palace. And I can see many young men (some scouts in the newly formed local troop) gathered there that day, who in a few short years would be called up.
So although this statue is not even noticed by most Launcestonians today, I view it as a sacred site. For in the end it marked a world that was changing so rapidly and tragically, in a century that witnessed the end of the British Empire.
The Peacemaker
If there's a theme to this set of shots today, it is Colonialism. Until Federation on January 1, 1901, when the Australian Constitution came into force, Tasmania and five other self-governing colonies saw themselves as the most loyal servants of the British Empire.
Nowhere in Launceston is this "servitude" more clearly shown than right here at the King Edward VII statue in Royal Park. Edward reigned from 1901-1910, following in the footsteps of the great Matriarch of the British Empire, Queen Victoria.
There are two things of note in this shot (which is best viewed enlarged). (1) On the plinth we read "The Peacemaker". Sadly, within less than two years of the dedication of this memorial to the late king, young men were off to the other side of the world to die for king and country.
(2) Can you read who it was who dedicated this statue? You'll know the name and the organisation.
Lieutenant General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB, KStJ, DL, was a British Army officer, writer, founder and first Chief Scout of the world-wide Boy Scout Movement, and founder, with his sister Agnes, of the world-wide Girl Guide / Girl Scout Movement.
It would have been a great honour for Launceston to have such a distinguished visitor. The first rally of Scouts was in 1909 at Crystal Palace. And I can see many young men (some scouts in the newly formed local troop) gathered there that day, who in a few short years would be called up.
So although this statue is not even noticed by most Launcestonians today, I view it as a sacred site. For in the end it marked a world that was changing so rapidly and tragically, in a century that witnessed the end of the British Empire.