UPGRADE OF WAR MEMORIALS IN THE LEAD UP TO ANZAC DAY

“These war memorials are dedicated to our fallen and it is fitting that they will be upgraded before the Centenary of Anzac,” he said. 

Five Dock War Memorial is undergoing a $200,000 upgrade funded by Five Dock RSL in commemoration of the Centenary of Anzac, with the works due for completion ahead of the Anzac service on Sunday, 19 April.

The upgrade includes returning the brickwork to its original aesthetic, renewing gutters and roof beams, replacing the concrete plinth that holds the eternal flame with a contemporary glass structure that has the names of the fallen etched into it, as well as replacing the previous timber ceiling with a new art deco pressed metal one.

“We also have four pine trees, which are descendants of the original lone pine at Gallipoli that will be planted as sentinels,” said Mayor Tsirekas.

“These trees are currently seedlings and will be present at the Anzac service before taken away to be grown until they’re large enough to be planted in a public space.

“I’m also very excited about the upgrades to the Pavilion of Honour at Queen Elizabeth Park, Concord, which is undergoing a $150,000 transformation,” he said.

The upgrade at the memorial site at Queen Elizabeth Park has been made possible thanks to the Australian Government’s Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program and their funding of $38,600 towards the project. The remainder of the project cost was funded by Council in partnership with Concord RSL.

The war memorial was constructed in 1921 and has significant heritage considerations as well as being a focal point for memorial services on Remembrance Days and Anzac Days.

Part of the works included the names of deceased soldiers from WWI listed on the freestanding central panel and those of WWII and subsequent conflicts on plaques added to the internal brick frame of the building.

This year, several Anzac Services will be held around the City of Canada Bay.  They include:

·         Kokoda Track Memorial Dawn Service on Sunday, 19 April at 5.30am

·         Five Dock War Memorial on Sunday, 19 April at 11am

·         Drummoyne RSL Dawn Service at the Civic Centre on Saturday, 25 April at 5.30am

·         Concord RSL Dawn Service on Saturday, 25 April at 5am

·         Concord War Memorial on Saturday, 25 April at 5pm.