25/04/2026
During the First World War, one of Australia's most spirited recruitment campaigns was the "snowball" recruiting march, a movement that captured the imagination of communities in 1915 and 1916.
The concept was simple yet highly effective. A small band of volunteers would set out on foot, travelling a predetermined route—usually through country towns and rural districts—before concluding at a major city or military training camp. At each stop, local residents gathered for civic receptions, patriotic speeches, and lively recruitment meetings. Inspired by the enthusiasm of the marchers, local men often joined their ranks, causing the procession to grow larger with every mile—just like a snowball rolling downhill.
Among the most celebrated of these marches was the South Coast Waratahs Recruiting March. In preparation for their journey, the Nowra Branch of the Red Cross Society lovingly created a magnificent banner to accompany the men. On 30 November 1915, the flag was formally presented to Captain Blow, the march's leader, by the branch secretary, Miss Emma Bice, and treasurer, Mrs Ruby Hayes.
That same day, the Waratahs proudly marched out of Nowra, bound for Sydney. As they progressed north along the coast, their ranks steadily swelled. By the time they reached Sydney on 18 December 1915, approximately 120 men had enlisted under the Waratah banner.
Following their arrival, the recruits undertook three months of military training at Liverpool Camp. Upon completing their training, they returned home briefly before preparing for overseas service. At one of the many farewell functions held in their honour, the treasured Waratahs banner was entrusted to Mrs Nea Rodway, president of the Nowra Red Cross Society. She promised it would occupy "pride of place" in the society's workroom—a fitting tribute to the men it had inspired.
Beginning in March 1916, the Waratahs departed for the battlefields overseas. Tragically, around thirty of those brave volunteers would never return.
The success of the Waratahs also influenced military preparations closer to home. In 1916, Kiama was selected as a preliminary training camp for newly enlisted men before they advanced to the more rigorous training at Liverpool.
Although snowball marches generated tremendous public enthusiasm and patriotic fervour, the actual enlistment numbers often fell short of expectations given the enormous effort involved in organising them. Their popularity soon waned. A final attempt to revive the concept came in 1918 with the "Freedom" marches, launched in response to declining enlistments, but these too met with only limited success.
Today, the story of the South Coast Waratahs remains a stirring reminder of the patriotism, sacrifice, and community spirit that defined Australia during the Great War.
Photo 1: The Waratah's arrive in Manning Street
Photo 2: The Waratah's march to the Kiama Council Chambers
Photo 3: The Waratah's leave Kiama for Jamberoo
Photo 4: The Waratah route from Nowra to Sydney
