Council resolved to allow a small plaque on a seat or one of the rocks to go ahead after Rotary Club of Gunnedah West requested the memorial be placed elsewhere.

David Densley of the Rotary club delivered an impassioned plea against the proposal at the council meeting on Wednesday. 

“Rotary has made it the iconic attraction it is with many efforts over the years. Council could consider another spot for this, but please not Pensioners’ Hill,” he said.

Councillor Owen Hasler moved the motion declaring a “strong connection between the Iceton family and that hill for many years”. A memorial walk on the hill is named after Mr Iceton’s mother, Ailsa, who delivered food to less fortunate people during the depression.

Councillor Gae Swain said an “enormous effort” by the Iceton family deserved to be honoured.

“I acknowledge the work by Rotary, but this is not their hill sorry. It is a community effort and I know they have done most of the work, but I think this is an appropriate memorial for a family so closely aligned with that area,” Cr Swain said.

Mr Iceton helped establish the Nurturing Evolutionary Development (NED) Foundation, which aims to foster social and personal evolutionary processes within Australia and the world. The NED Foundation will be covering all costs involved for the plaque.