Standing since 1921, the Cambooya War Memorial will need to be rebuilt after a vehicle drove into it early last Saturday, causing significant damage including toppling over the obelisk.
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said between 5.50am and 6.10am on Saturday, a single vehicle left the road and hit the War Memorial.
The spokesperson said the investigation is ongoing and no charges have been laid thus far.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said a man in his late 30s was transported to Toowoomba Hospital in a stable condition, suffering from neck pain.
The damage at the memorial suggests the vehicle was travelling west on Eton Street.
Toowoomba Regional Council Environment and Community Committee Chair Cr James O’Shea said it is incredibly disappointing to see the level of damage which has occurred at the Cambooya War Memorial.
“The memorial is a lasting legacy to those who have fought for this country and made the ultimate sacrifice to give us the freedoms we have today,” Cr O’Shea said.
“Not only is there a monetary cost to restore the memorial, but there is also an emotional cost for the damage that has been caused.
“Toowoomba Regional Council officers have been on site to inspect the memorial and are in the process of assessing the cost and timeline for repairing the memorial.”
In addition to the War Memorial itself, a flagpole was destroyed, as was a roadside barrier.
The Cambooya War Memorial was erected in 1921 to commemorate 14 soldiers who were killed in action in the First World War and 63 men and women who served and returned to Australia.
Subsequent plaques were added to the memorial to honour the 46 men and women that served in the Second World War and six men who served in the Vietnam War.
This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 1 June 2023.