The offspring of a Lone Pine marks the War Memorial in the middle of the dry, dusty opal fields at Lake Beard, 60 kilometres out of Lightning Ridge.

In this rough and ready community this stands as a special tribute to those men and women who served our country in all conflicts.

There are many miners out here, ex-servicemen and women, that are searching for peace in this harsh, solitary environment. And many have contributed to the amazing little museum that has been established and maintained by local volunteers.

Like my visit to the memorial in Sandakan, Borneo some years ago this too will linger in my memory as a sadly beautiful tribute to not only those souls that were lost and didn’t come home, but to the lost souls who did return.