Soil from Goulburn has been collected to be part of the ANZAC Memorial Centenery Project.
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State Minister for Veterans Affairs David Elliott and Member for Goulburn Pru Goward today took a soil sample from near the Kenmore Hospital War Memorial on Friday, September 22 to be included in the project.
The soil is just one of 1699 samples to be taken across NSW where young soldiers enlisted to fight. They will be placed in the renovated Hall of Service with the name of the town next to them..
Minister David Elliott said in Goulburn the project was very symbolic.
“With the centenary on ANZAC, the state and federal governments decided to upgrade the war memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney,” Mr Elliott said.
“It was built in the 1930’s through public subscription but the dried up due to the Great Depression - so it could never be formally completed to the original design, which included a cascading waterfall on the southern side of the memorial. Eighty years later we are now competing it.”
The state and federal governments had put in $18 million each to complete the project.
“It is not just the waterfall, the completed War Memorial will include a new library, lecture theatre and reception area, as well as a wall of remembrance , which would include the soil samples,” he said.
He said Goulburn had a very rich history in the Australian Army.
He mentioned Captain Charles Dalglish, who was born in Goulburn in 1883. He moved to UK and joined the Third Battalion and in the Boer War. During World War I he joined with the Scottish Regiment of the Militia and in September, 1914 was one of the first Australians to be killed in battle -
“He was leading his soldiers from the front when he was shot, but died later in hospital,” Mr Elliott said.
Member for Goulburn Pru Goward said it is wonderful for Goulburn to be part of.
“We have such a proud history and this is why we have the wonderful Rocky Hill War Memorial Museum,” Ms Goward said.
“We had so many young men come back from that war, which entitled us to a big share of the memorabilia and captured items.”
“It is great to have Minister Elliott here in the electorate to acknowledge Goulburn’s important contribution to Australia’s proud ANZAC legacy.
“Goulburn gave a huge number of people to the war effort and this important contribution will be recognised in the collection of soil from the Kenmore War Memorial.”
Goulburn RSL Sub-Branch secretary Mal Ritchie appreciated the minister visiting Goulburn.
“It was a marvellous service, done well by the Minister. It reflects well what it is all about and we appreciate that the minister made time to come down here,” Mr Ritchie said.
Goulburn RSL Sub-Branch president Gordon Wade said the acknowledgement of Goulburn servicemen in the service was particularly apt.
“It is impressive to think the government has brought what our First World War boys did to light for the completion of the war memorial in Sydney – to have Goulburn included in that is tremendous,” Mr Wade said.
Minister spoke very well, particularly of a serviceman from Goulburn
Goulburn Mulwaree mayor Bob Kirk said it was a significant event.
“It was interesting to hear what Minister Elliott had to say about the history of that Goulburn serviceman - it was very appropriate,” Cr Kirk said.
He said it was good to be able to access Kenmore for the occasion.
“It is good to see that access is still available to this war memorial site in the Kenmore grounds,” he said.
“The new owner has worked with us cooperatively and I hope for bigger and better things for this whole site.”
The Anzac Memorial Centenary Project Soil Collection is part of the NSW Government’s upgrade of the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park during the Centenary of Anzac.
The Anzac Memorial upgrade will be complete in October 2018.