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Tuesday 2 November, 2021
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Vol 15 No 43
Foundation stone 100 years on
Commemorating the laying of the 100-year old foundation stone, Moorabool Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan and Bacchus Marsh RSL President Cherrison Lawton. Photo – Helen Tatchell By Lachlan Ellis A foundation stone, originally laid by Major General Sir Brudenell White on October 27 1921, has been commemorated, 100 years on, with a small ceremony… and cake. In honour of soldiers from the former Shire of Bacchus Marsh who fought and died in World War I, the stone is situated at the Bacchus Marsh RSL, the building itself approximately 104 years old. Around 30 people attended the ceremony commemorating a century since the foundation stone was laid, with Bacchus Marsh RSL President Cherrison Lawton and Moorabool Shire Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan addressing those in attendance. Ms Lawton read out an excerpt from the former Bacchus Marsh Express, the local newspaper of the time, which detailed the events of the day the stone was laid. ‘This was a very important event; we had the Chief of Staff come out from Melbourne to lay this foundation stone.’ “And this is the exciting part we found out about,” Ms Lawton said. ‘Beneath the stone was placed a casket, containing silver and copper coins of the year, copies of the metropolitan papers and Express, also a full list of the names of local soldiers as they appear on the honour board’.
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“None of us are game to take that out to find out if it’s there… the guys have done some research, and a list of those coins would probably not pay for the damages we would cause. Hopefully in another hundred years’ time they might find out what’s in there.” Ms Lawton said Mr J. H. Lister, MRA, hoped the hall would not be the last of their obligations to the returned soldiers. “He trusted the people would still recognise they had a duty to perform to the men who had done so much for Australia. “Mr Lister’s hopes had been fulfilled, thanks to the work of the community in supporting veterans and the RSL,” she said. Cr Sullivan honoured the past residents of Bacchus Marsh and thanked the RSL for the opportunity to speak. “It’s a pleasure to be here on such an auspicious occasion. It’s interesting to try and reflect about a hundred years ago – what would the people who lived here have been thinking about?” he said. “They had come out of the Great War, and looked ahead to a bright future. I commend them for their spirit…and the values they had then I would say stand us in good stead for today and into the future – loyalty, trust, and respect.” Joyce Porter, who had two great uncles fight in the war, also addressed the crowd, speaking about the attitudes of the “close-knit” communities in the area, and the strength of both the soldiers and those who remained at home.
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