FOLK have the chance to walk in the footsteps of First World War diggers when a re-enactment of the Riverina Kangaroo recruits march from Wagga Wagga to Sydney is held later this year.
Robert Patten, who chaired the first board meeting of The Land when he was member for Hume in federal Parliament, led the Riverina Kangaroos (pictured wearing the pith helmet).
After the Gallipoli campaign, a referendum for conscription failed so Australia resorted to recruitment marches and on December 7, 1915, 88 men marched out of Wagga Wagga bound for war.
The men marched through towns and villages along the way.
Rousing meetings were held with impassioned speeches and music urging others to join the fight for king and country.
The trip from Wagga Wagga to Yass was 212 kilometres, and averaged 14km a day.
The march moved on to Goulburn and into Campbelltown where the recruits took the steam train to Sydney, arriving with 222 men by the end of December.
The fervour of the rallies will be recreated in Wagga Wagga when the Kangaroo March Centenary Re-enactment sets out on September 3, recreating the route and arriving in Sydney on October 10.
n Visit kangaroomarch.org.au or contact Rhondda Vanzella, 0427 019 754.
