Hill End’s refurbished War Memorial will be rededicated on the centenary of Anzac with two new plaques listing the names of 173 WW1 enlistees.
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A subcommittee of the district’s Progress Association formed to manage the project several years ago.
“It seemed a fitting undertaking, for the commemoration of the Centenary of Anzac that the memorial receive a renewal to bring it once more into prominence,” war memorial committee chairperson Jim Shanahan said.
“It recognises the substantial impact that the Great War had on the community by acknowledging the contribution made by the local families.”
Mr Shanahan said volunteers planned and laboured on the project.
“A new fence and Remembrance Arch will be added and the original gate will be restored to its rightful position. This is not the first makeover that has been undertaken for the memorial and aspects of the past work have been sympathetically incorporated into the restoration.”
The lives of the 173 soldiers listed have been chronicled in a book ‘Golden Diggers’ to be launched on the day.
The book, from the Hill End and Tambaroora Gathering Group, pays tribute to the lives of those servicemen and women as well as the contribution made by the community to the war effort on the home front.
“For those with an interest in Australian history of this period, or with ancestors from the district this book offers a snapshot of life in the town during the Great War period,” group convener Lorraine Purcell said.
“It then presents a brief biography of each of the 173 servicemen and women, including BDM information, brief military records, and in many instances a portrait as well.
“As this was an era when people were also leaving the district, as work in the gold mines had diminished, these folk moved and settled throughout Australia so it is quite possible that they settled in your area. As first-hand knowledge of these families diminishes with time, it is essential to record and preserve this information for future generations.”
Painstakingly researched and presented by family historian, Helen Wood, with additional material from Ms Purcell, this work reveals an aspect of Hill End’s history not previously covered to this depth.
It contains more than 220 pages and includes a comprehensive index of names and unique photographs from family collections and the Hill End and Tambaroora Gathering Group archives.
The book will be launched at the Royal Hall in Hill End at 10am on Anzac Day, April 25. All invited.
For more details and to purchase a copy visit Gathering Group website at www.heatgg.org.au or phone Lorraine Purcell on (02) 9587 0352 for more details.