Thirteen new brass plaques glow warmly in the morning sun on Gunnedah’s cenotaph.
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The plaques were installed over the Easter weekend by local builder Tony Pollock who donated his time and skills.
“It’s commemorating all the major conflicts Australia has been involved in since 1901,” Gunnedah RSL Sub-branch secretary Kerry Bee said.
“In Gunnedah we didn’t really have any memorial to any other conflicts than the first and second wars.”
Mr Bee said the idea had been in the pipeline for about eight years, with the original concept of a commemorative wall on the right hand side of the Gunnedah Memorial Pool’s entrance.
The high cost of constructing the wall turned the sub-branch’s thoughts to other locations within the town that might be appropriate for the plaques. In recent months, it was decided that the cenotaph was the best place for them.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Mr Bee said.
He said it was particularly fitting that the plaques were installed in time for the 100 year anniversary of Anzac.
“I think that’s one of the main roles of the RSL is to perpetuate the memory of what servicemen have done to make this a better place,” he said.
The plaques were made in Sydney over a few months, with Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club, and Gunnedah Legacy Widows contributing to the cost.