A Community Committee made up of the Moonta National Trust, Moonta RSL, Moonta Progress Association, Vietnam Veterans Copper Coast and interested locals were thrilled to get approval from Copper Coast Council for a bronze statue of Sir Richard Williams, the initiative of the committee for the RAAF Centenary, to be placed in Moonta’s Queen Square. Community awareness, of the role local Sir Richard had played in the creation and development of the RAAF, developed from research into famous people who were from historic Moonta. Fundraising was difficult with the pandemic, but we raised the funds required, major sponsors being Air Force Association and SA State Government with almost half the funds raised by Moonta’s Sir Richard Williams RAAF Centenary Celebrations Committee.

The Copper Coast Council came on board to provide the concrete block on which to mount the statue, story rock and bench, and were kind enough to send out invitations for us for our big event day of unveiling, by the South Australian Governor, Her Excellency, the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, which was held on 7 November 2021. Council also had an active representative on the committee. We were also grateful for the fabulous support provided for our vision by the RAAF and the combined efforts resulted in a lasting legacy of the RAAF and Sir Richard Williams in his hometown, plus a great celebration day with a street parade, fly pasts of RAAF and vintage planes, a book launch, a VIP lunch and a Thanksgiving Church Service at Moonta Mines Uniting Church. It was a fabulously successful day supported by many local community groups and the RAAF. A very fitting tribute to a worthy Moonta identity.

Sculptor Tim Thomson, Committee Chairperson, Robyn Knight and Group Captain Greg Weller with SA Governor, Her Excellency, the Honourable Frances Adamson AC in Photo