Pimpama State Primary College (PSPC) is proud to name our sports houses after three local families whose sons served as Diggers in WW1. Many of the sons were known to each other (John 'Jack' Peachey and David Wilkie being great mates). The families were known within the Pimpama/Ormeau community and are still in the community today.
The three families are named (with other sons from the region) on the Ormeau Pimpama War memorial.
WILKIE
Private David Wilkie was born in Cedar Creek and was working on farms in this area when he enlisted on 26th January 1916 along with his friends Fred and John 'Jack' Peachey. At the end of 1916 David was sent to the Western Front, but he developed an ear infection after only a month. Without the modern antibiotics of today, the ear infection eventually required an operation and he took over seven months to recover before he could re-join the 31st Battalion in France in August 1917. He was killed in action less than two months later at Polygon Wood, in the Ypres sector of Belgium, on the 26th September 1917. Although David has no known grave, his war records suggest that he is buried in the vicinity of Polygon Wood. David's name is inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.
David Wilkie's name is located at panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. His Roll of Honour information is detailed HERE
PEACHEY
Private John William Peachey was known as Jack. Jack was raised on a farm at Orange Mountain, attending the Podinga Provisional
School, which was later named Ormeau State School. At the conclusion of the
1915 arrowroot harvest and milling season, Jack enlisted with the A.I.F along
with his two brothers Charles and Fredrick and his friend David Wilkie. After
attending training at Enoggera and later at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds, he
travelled by train to Sydney before sailing to England. He was transferred to
the 47th Battalion as a reinforcement on the 17th October 1916. He was wounded
in action with a gunshot wound to his shoulder on the 8th June 1917 and after a
month’s recovery he re-joined his battalion in the field. He was killed in
action during the First Battle of Passchendaele, Belgium and is buried in the
Passchendaele New British Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Jack Peachey's name is located at panel 144 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. His Roll of Honour information is detailed HERE
STEWART
Private George Stewart. He was the last of three brothers to pay the supreme sacrifice during World War 1. He was raised on the family farm “Beau Parc” which is situated on Stewarts Road at Ormeau. George was working as a farmer when he enlisted on the 6th November 1916. He departed Australia from Sydney on the 22nd December. On arrival in England he was treated for pleurisy and after a four-month recovery he joined the 25th Battalion on the Western Front in France on the 3rd July 1917. He was killed in action near Villers-Bretonneux in France and is buried in the Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, France.
George Stewart's name is located at panel 106 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. His Roll of Honour information is detailed HERE
Wilkie house by the colour black
Peachey house is represented by the colour yellow
Stewart house by the colour red
Together these colours form the Aboriginal Flag.