Roma, Queensland, Australia

On a straight road that seems to go on forever, is a country town of 7,011 people. While this town's size is small, the quality of people that live here makes it anything but small. The folks here who call this place home are a breed of people that are just extraordinary.

Roma itself is the largest town in the Maranoa Region. It boasts a collection of city-like services and experiences, served up with friendly country hospitality. There is a café for anyone, honestly there are cafes scattered all around the town. It seems there are more café’s then people to fill them, but that is so beautiful. It has everything from fine dining restaurants, to modern, architectural award-winning designed pubs with alfresco dining, Art Gallery, and everything else in between.

I have lived in Roma for about twelves, but locally have lived in Surat's surrounding area since 2000, on a farm my family owns. I am probably still not quite a local. They say you have to be born in Roma or marry a local before being considered a local. However, I disagree, I could not wish to live anywhere else in my life. Roma is located just half-a-days drive (476kms), or one-hour flight, west of Brisbane, Queensland’s capital city. It has many things to offer from the biggest cattle sale -yards in the southern hemisphere to remarkable landscapes surrounding the town. One gem it holds is a proud history of servicemen and women, which can be explored down Heroes Avenue.

I often walk Heroes Avenue, and the other afternoon I was walking down it again, and I was thinking that it still moves me the same way as the first time I walked down it. The Heroes Avenue is a token of appreciation, the township created to honor its history of the First World War Service Personal. There are 93 Queensland bottle trees, planted with a plaque in front of them paying homage, remembering Roma's men who died in First World War. The use of the bottle trees creates a gorgeous boulevard honoring the fallen. It is said the first tree was planted in 1918. Allegedly it was planted in honor of Lieutenant Corporal Norman Saunders who was killed in France in 1916. According to the legend that first bottle tree, was embedded in the soil, outside the Post Office, near McDowell and Wyndham street. Some of the locals refer to it as their version of the Tree of Knowledge.

After this tree was planted, old folks say the rest of the Avenue's trees were added, although the dates specified are not recorded. From this first tree planted in 1920, the trees cascade down to the railway station into Wyndham Street and along Bungil Street to meet at the Hawthorne Street intersection. Initially, locals tell me that each tree had a brass nameplate on them. Over time, these were replaced with the plaques at the bottom of the trees, sat on a small cement pillar, for better longevity. Only one of the existing nameplates exists and it has become a landmark outside the Post Office, displaying all 93 names, of the heroes that marched away.

When I am walking down this Avenue, I just get this overwhelming sense of how grateful, lucky, and blessed I am to live in Australia. I come from a long line of service personal on both sides of my family, with many serving in the First World War, Second World War, and many that have served since and still serve currently. So I feel very drawn and attached to the Avenue. I would not say I support war, but I do support the men and women that are brave enough to either be prepared to, or have laid down their lives for my freedom, and that of others. Defending their country, to give other people a better and safer life. If I could have had my way, I would have joined the air force. That way I would have been carrying on the family tradition of serving, but would have changed it up a bit, as I had wanted to fly Tom Cats, and not just join the Army, which is the most common area of service in my family. But I have a medical condition that excludes me from even entering the police force.

I am at heart an idealist and if all of humanity could get along and we had no, need for defending counties, I would be beyond happy. But I know this is simply not the truth of the world. Unfortunately, humans can not seem to give up our need to control other people and hurt them.

But as I walked, down the Avenue late in the evening, I found myself walking with tears in my eyes. This is a fairly typical response for me, I have always been a patriot at heart, but this afternoon, it hit me. Here I am walking freely down the street, with no one shooting at me, basically carefree, breathing fresh air not filled with dust and smoke. Listening to the birds singing in the trees, not hearing missiles exploding, in the background. I just felt so grateful to live where I live, in a town that has so much and is filled with both brave and lovely people. They just care about other people. Time and time again, they show up for one another. Whether it be when the floods came and destroyed half of Roma or rallying behind one another like when a family is faced by adversity and, going out of their way to fund raise money and care for them. That is just what the whole town does, helps and serves other people, through life. So, I guess it should not surprise the number of service personnel coming out of this little hat town.

For a small town, the number of service personal in the first world war is quite outstanding, really considering its size. There has been many since serving too. The passion for remembering its fallen or serving heroes is very touching. Additionally, there is a World War one Honor Board located in the Roma-Bungil Cultural Centre in Bungil Street. There is a cenotaph in the town’s Queen’s Park the end of the Avenue of bottle trees. It is there to honor the World War One fatalities and has, since had the names of 39 men who died in World War Two. Each year Roma throws a unique tribute on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day to all its past and present serving personal. Walking down the Avenue watching the sun going down, casting this warm golden glow over the bottle trees. Watching all the children riding bikes safely in the street is, truly moving and beautiful to watch. There was just this peacefulness walking down the Avenue. I am listening to willy wagtails and other birds chattering in the trees, and it makes you think deeply about the blessings we take for granted. A lifestyle that other people in other counties wish they had.

We need to make ourselves each day count our blessings and be grateful for, what we have that is so important to other people, that we take for granted. We need to stop looking for the small, things we get offended by. The offence is a choice, and in the grand scheme of things, it really isn’t important. There is something almost magical about Heroes Avenue, which speaks to the soul and invokes both nostalgic memories and challenges one to think about what gratitude is in one’s life. I highly encourage you to visit Roma, take a walk, and think and be reminded of how great your life is. Because it is great. We all have great lives, we just need to remember that more.

Written By Emma White