For years , embarrassing , obvious mistakes at Darwin’s Cenotaph- focal point for large annual services attended by the Administrator, politicians, RSL officials, representatives of Allied military forces, veterans and relatives of past and present serving personnel- have gone uncorrected.
There are glaring spelling errors in the stonework at the Esplanade memorial which detracts from honouring those who served and died in many conflicts from World War 1 onwards. One panel refers to United Nation Peacekeeping when it should be plural, Nations . Another panel incorrectly spells the Philippines - Phillipines . The Australian DEFAT Travel advisory is for the Philippines . Another gaffe cut into the stonework in large gilt letters refers to Netherland’s East Indies . It should be Netherlands East Indies , now Indonesia , part of the Netherlands (Dutch, former Low Lands ) extended kingdom. For these errors to continue unchanged gives the impression that Darwin does not care or is Hicksville, despite all its pretensions at being a slick modern city. The expression rough as guts also comes to mind.
The powers that be in Darwin can see a golden opportunity to make a bigger buck out of the city’s war history , and now uses the despicable marketing term , “BRAND BOMBING ,” in respect of the opportunity to cash in on the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin in 2012 . Before the planning goes any further, Little Darwin strongly suggests the Darwin cenotaph snafu be fixed asap.
In addition, the Welcome to Darwin website , dealing with war memorials around the city, needs an overhaul to correct spelling errors, smarten up the text and decide on the editorial style for the second global war , it being variously presented as WW11, ww2, WW2 , World War 2 .
Dealing with the Esplanade cenotaph, it says the area has “ a beautiful war memorial in memory of those who enlisted in the Great War from the Northern Territory ”. Beautiful is hardly an apt adjective used to describe a memorial to a war where there was wholesale slaughter. Directions on how to get to the memorial state it is not far from the city center (sic) .The Esplanade, it continues, strethches ( sic ) along the harbour .
There are glaring spelling errors in the stonework at the Esplanade memorial which detracts from honouring those who served and died in many conflicts from World War 1 onwards. One panel refers to United Nation Peacekeeping when it should be plural, Nations . Another panel incorrectly spells the Philippines - Phillipines . The Australian DEFAT Travel advisory is for the Philippines . Another gaffe cut into the stonework in large gilt letters refers to Netherland’s East Indies . It should be Netherlands East Indies , now Indonesia , part of the Netherlands (Dutch, former Low Lands ) extended kingdom. For these errors to continue unchanged gives the impression that Darwin does not care or is Hicksville, despite all its pretensions at being a slick modern city. The expression rough as guts also comes to mind.
The powers that be in Darwin can see a golden opportunity to make a bigger buck out of the city’s war history , and now uses the despicable marketing term , “BRAND BOMBING ,” in respect of the opportunity to cash in on the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin in 2012 . Before the planning goes any further, Little Darwin strongly suggests the Darwin cenotaph snafu be fixed asap.
In addition, the Welcome to Darwin website , dealing with war memorials around the city, needs an overhaul to correct spelling errors, smarten up the text and decide on the editorial style for the second global war , it being variously presented as WW11, ww2, WW2 , World War 2 .
Dealing with the Esplanade cenotaph, it says the area has “ a beautiful war memorial in memory of those who enlisted in the Great War from the Northern Territory ”. Beautiful is hardly an apt adjective used to describe a memorial to a war where there was wholesale slaughter. Directions on how to get to the memorial state it is not far from the city center (sic) .The Esplanade, it continues, strethches ( sic ) along the harbour .
The guide information about the Charles Darwin Park, where there are old armament storage facilities, says Ggates (sic) are open between 7am and 7pm. The East Point Military Museum , also subject of poorly written prose, is just five minutes from the city center (sic) . The description of the Myilli (sic) Point Heritage Precinct contains repetitive statements about pre war houses.
The Katherine region, the web says, is 310 kilometers(sic) south of Darwin and further information can be obtained from the Katherine Visitor Information Center (sic).
On August 19 this year, the Bombing of Darwin and Military History Advisory Committee held a meeting in the Darwin City Council. Those present included Mayor Sawyer and Alderman Robyn Lesley ; Ms Melanie Rieichimeier,Tourism NT; Ms Tiffany Manzie and Paul Cattermole, Major Events; Ms Apolline Kohen, Department of Natural Resources,Environment , the Arts and Sport ; Malcolm Uhe, Department of Veterans’ Affairs; Stephen Gloster ,Returned and Services League ; Ms Karen Conway , Community & Cultural Services, Darwin City Council; Graham Fenton,Communications and Marketing , DCC; Mrs Amanda Adams , Assistant Committee Administrator.
The Katherine region, the web says, is 310 kilometers(sic) south of Darwin and further information can be obtained from the Katherine Visitor Information Center (sic).
On August 19 this year, the Bombing of Darwin and Military History Advisory Committee held a meeting in the Darwin City Council. Those present included Mayor Sawyer and Alderman Robyn Lesley ; Ms Melanie Rieichimeier,Tourism NT; Ms Tiffany Manzie and Paul Cattermole, Major Events; Ms Apolline Kohen, Department of Natural Resources,Environment , the Arts and Sport ; Malcolm Uhe, Department of Veterans’ Affairs; Stephen Gloster ,Returned and Services League ; Ms Karen Conway , Community & Cultural Services, Darwin City Council; Graham Fenton,Communications and Marketing , DCC; Mrs Amanda Adams , Assistant Committee Administrator.
Nowhere in the minutes was there mention of the urgent need to correct the cenotaph errors and the amateurish website guide to Darwin’s war memorials. Alderman Lesley discussed developing “ product ” Bombing of Darwin with the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin being a significant event attracting national and international representation. The meeting was told that Alderman Lesley would be up up and away soon to formalise a relationship between Darwin and Honoloulu, Hawaii , both having been bombed by the Japanese .
With all these high powered people and organisations involved in “ brand bombing”, surely somebody will attend to the cenotaph situation and the less than satisfactory What ‘s on Darwin guide to the city’s war memorials.
With all these high powered people and organisations involved in “ brand bombing”, surely somebody will attend to the cenotaph situation and the less than satisfactory What ‘s on Darwin guide to the city’s war memorials.
