The Cane Beetles March was a snowball march in April 1916 in North Queensland, Australia, to recruit men into the Australian Imperial Force during World War I at a time when enthusiasm to enlist had waned after the loss of life in the Gallipoli campaign. The march began at Mooliba on 20 April 1916 with 4 men and ended in Cairns 60 kilometers later with 29 recruits. [1]
Following Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 4 August 1914, Australia and the other members of the British Empire were also at war. The first Australian to perish on the Western Front was Lieutenant William Malcolm Chisholm of the Lancashire Regiment, who died in the Battle of Le Cateau in France on 26 August 1914. Closer to home, Australian troops secured German New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago in September–October 1914. Australians landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey on 25 April 1915. By October 1915, Australia had lost 7,279 men in the Gallipoli Campaign and thousands more were wounded. Although Australian troops were withdrawn from Gallipoli by 20 December 1915, more recruits were needed in the Middle East and on the Western Front. [2]
The Cane Beetles March appears to have been the initiative of the Cairns Recruiting Committee. At that time, cane beetles were a major pest in the sugar industry in North Queensland and a banner was made showing the German Kaiser running away from a swarm of beetles, which appears to be the origin of the name of the march. [3] However, the Gordonvale Recruiting Committee disliked the name due to their being a pest, but decided they were prepared to overlook the name in order to focus on "the brave fellows who have responded to the call of duty and are going forth to fight the battles of the Empire and to uphold liberty, freedom and justice". [4]
The route for the march was from Mooliba via Babinda, Aloomba, Gordonvale, and Edmonton to Cairns. [5]
At Mooliba on Thursday 20 April, there were four volunteers to commence the march under the leadership of Sergeant Bloom. There was an enthusiastic send-off with many speeches made. The party reached Babinda at 5.25 p.m. and were greeted there by the townspeople and school children. After speeches of welcome, the party were entertained at Mrs Whittaker's boarding house, followed by a social gathering at the Babinda Hall. Nine more volunteers joined The Beetles at Babinda. [6]
On Friday 21 April (Good Friday), the volunteers left Babinda and marched for four miles through heavy rain (Babinda is known as one of the wettest places in Australia). At Bellenden Ker, the Beetles were served with milk and cake by Mr and Mr Healy, followed by lavish refreshments at Mr J. Hill's place. Lunch was served in a large pavilion at Ross's farm including 75 pounds of fresh fish from the Russell River followed by the usual toasts. On arrival at McDonald's Creek, the Kerrs provided refreshment and the volunteers saluted a Union Jack that had been through the Boer War. Arriving at Fishery Creek, local residents welcomed them with entertainment at Mr Thompson's place with Mr Booker making a fine speech, followed by cheers for the King and Empire. There was another large reception at Mount Sophia where the Beetles were entertained at Mrs O'Byrne's place with speeches and patriotic songs. At arrival at Aloomba at 5.20pm, the volunteers were escorted by the townspeople to a public reception. That night the Beetles were the guests of Mrs O'Reagan at her Aloomba Hotel. Four volunteers joined at Aloomba. [6]
The Beetles left Aloomba at noon on Saturday 22 April and reached Gordonvale Bridge in the mid-afternoon where they were met by the townspeople including the rifle club, cadets, school children and Gordonvale band. The volunteers had a swim in the Mulgrave River. Then an arge procession was formed to march to Gordonvale Park, where members of the Gordonvale Recruiting Committee delivered speeches. A Red Cross social was held in the evening and the volunteers were presented with cigarettes and tobacco. Later that evening the Beetles were entertained at the Nelson Hotel and at the movies. [6] [7]
On Sunday 23 April (Easter Sunday), the Beetles spent the day in Gordonvale. In the morning the volunteers conducted a drill and in the afternoon paid visits by motorcar to the farms of the Messrs Cannon, Bastin and Alley, where they were royally entertained at each place. Then there was a parade to the Presbyterian Church. Six volunteers joined at Gordonvale. [6] [7]
On Monday 24 April, the Beetles marched out of Gordonvale, accompanied by the Gordonvale band to the outskirts of the town, where they were farewelled with more speeches. They left with a gift of a case of beer from Mr Lancester of the Queen's Hotel. Arriving at McKinnon's Bridge at 12.20pm, the volunteers were escorted into Edmonton with musical accompaniment. A public reception was held at the Edmonton Hall followed by a splendid repast, completed with toasts and a stirring speech by Mr C Butler. In the afternoon, there was a rugby match between the Beetles and the Edmonton team, ending in a nil-all draw. In the evening the Beetles were entertained at both of Edmonton's hotels. Two recruits joined from Green Hill and three recruits joined from Edmonton. [6]
On Tuesday 25 April (Anzac Day) the Beetles were presented with tobacco and cigarettes before departing Edmonton at 9.35am. The volunteers were met on arrival at Woree by Mr G R Mayers, the chairman of the Cairns Shire Council, where one final recruit joined the marchers. The Beetles arrived in Cairns by 2pm with a total of 29 recruits. [6] The volunteers then marched in the Anzac Day parade in Cairns. [8]
Only 9 of the recruits were declared fit for military duty. [1]
In 2016 as part of the First World War Centenary, Innisfail Canegrowers organised an re-enactment of the 63-kilometre (39 mi) march. [9]
Cairns is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the 2021 census, Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.
Gordonvale is a rural sugar-growing town and locality situated on the southern side of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Gordonvale had a population of 6,944 people.
Yarrabah is a coastal town and locality in the Aboriginal Shire of Yarrabah, Queensland, Australia. It is an Aboriginal community. In the 2021 census, the locality of Yarrabah had a population of 2,505 people.
Edmonton is a town and suburb in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the suburb of Edmonton had a population of 11,409 people.
Babinda is a rural town and locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. Babinda and Tully annually compete for the Golden Gumboot, an award for Australia's wettest town. Babinda is usually the winner, recording an annual average rainfall of over 4,279.4 millimetres (168.48 in) each year. In the 2021 census, the locality of Babinda had a population of 1,287 people.
During World War I, recruitment marches or snowball marches to state capital cities were a feature of volunteer recruiting drives for the Australian Imperial Force in rural Australia. Between October 1915 and February 1916, nine marches were held starting from various points in the state; the most notable was the first march from Gilgandra, New South Wales, known as the Cooee march. The March of the Dungarees took place in south-eastern Queensland in November 1915. In 1918, in an effort to promote recruitment, another march was staged, but this was less spontaneous and the marchers in fact travelled by train.
Aloomba is a rural town and a locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Aloomba had a population of 576 people.
The Gillies Highway is a road that runs from Gordonvale in the Cairns Region through the Gillies Range to Atherton in the Tablelands Region, both in Queensland, Australia. Its official name is Gillies Range Road, and it was originally known as the Cairns Range Road.
The Cairns Region is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Queensland, Australia, centred on the regional city of Cairns. It was established in 2008 by the amalgamation of the City of Cairns and the Shires of Douglas and Mulgrave. However, following public protest and a referendum in 2013, on 1 January 2014, the Shire of Douglas was de-amalgamated from the Cairns Region and re-established as a separate local government authority.
The Mulgrave River, incorporating the East Mulgrave River and the West Mulgrave River, is a river system in Far North Queensland, Australia. The 70-kilometre (43 mi)-long river flows towards the Coral Sea and is located approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Cairns.
Mirriwinni is a rural town and locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. The spelling Miriwinni has also been used historically, but Mirriwinni is the official spelling from 8 October 2010. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mirriwinni had a population of 492 people.
Woopen Creek is a rural locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Woopen Creek had a population of 135 people.
Cairns City is a coastal suburb at the centre of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It is also known as the Cairns Central Business District (CBD). In the 2021 census, Cairns City had a population of 3,616 people.
The March of the Dungarees was a snowball march in November 1915 in South-East Queensland, Australia, to recruit men into the Australian military during World War I at a time when enthusiasm to enlist had waned after the loss of life in the Gallipoli campaign. The march began at Warwick with 28 men and followed the Southern railway line through Toowoomba, Laidley, and Ipswich to its destination in Brisbane, gathering 125 recruits along the way.
The Queensland Recruiting Committee was a volunteer organisation in Queensland, Australia, which urged Queensland men to enlist for military service during World War I. It operated from May 1915 to December 1916, when it was replaced by an Australian Government recruitment organisation, the Queensland State Recruiting Committee.
Carlisle Favell Wordsworth was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
Fishery Falls is a locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Fishery Falls had a population of 205 people.
Mount Peter is a rural locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Mount Peter had a population of 689 people.
Wrights Creek is a rural locality in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Wrights Creek had a population of 160 people.
The Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway was a private tram line from Cairns to the Mulgrave River in Queensland, Australia. It was built until 1897 to serve the Mulgrave Central Sugar Mill, built in 1895. The line, which led through difficult terrain including dense jungle, was built by the Cairns Divisional Board, later renamed Cairns Shire Council, at a cost of £15,319. The line originally ran from Cairns to Nelson, later renamed Gordonvale. In 1898 it was extended to Aloomba, and in 1910 it was finally extended to Babinda, over a length of 50 kilometres (31 mi). The end point in Cairns was between Spence and Bunda Street, adjacent to the Queensland Government's Cairns railway station, with which the line was connected by a short distance.
