Stunning memorial opens

by Adrian Hunter

A beautiful stone wall commemorating the past and present service men and women of Anglesea and District was officially opened in Anglesea’s Cameron Park on Sunday 27 February. Over 600 attended the opening ceremony, which included raising the flags, the Australian and New Zealand national anthems, a guest speaker Michael Ronaldson who is a former Federal Senator and a local resident, and the laying of wreaths by the RSL and Surf Coast Shire. Refreshments were held in the bowling club after the ceremony. Anglesea and district was one of few locations in Australia to not have a war memorial that listed names of locals who had served their country – the district takes in Bellbrae, Anglesea, Aireys Inlet, Moggs Creek and Eastern View on the Great Ocean Road. The challenge to create a worthy monument started with a meeting of the RSL and Anglesea Historical Society where a committee was formed with representatives from the RSL, Historical Society and Lions Club. Generous financial contributions by the community and the hard work of the Anglesea and District War Memorial Committee raised the target of $70,000. The stone wall is the focal point of the war memorial and includes a handcrafted corten steel Australian Defence Forces (ADF) Emblem, front lighting and up lit flag poles. Three plaques listing the names of almost 400 Anglesea and district men and women who served from World War I through to present times have been installed on the wall. Planting of a commemorative garden and a stone seat beside the wall has completed the space.

Local residents who served their country

World War I World War II

109 252 Post-1945 34 Malaya, Borneo, Indonesian Confrontation 3 Vietnam 17 National Service 9 Iraq 1 ADF 1 Peacekeepers 1

Celebrating and understanding the lives of those who served will continue with the ‘Know our Names’ Exhibition as outlined below.

The committee are still accepting donations to maintain the memorial and these can be deposited in the Bendigo Community Bank AWM account.

Anglesea & District War Memorial Committee ‘KNOW OUR NAMES’Exhibition

The people on our plaques Stories, photos, memorabilia, places, events Anglesea memorial Hall Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May 10am-4pm daily