William Leggett was one of the first Australian casualties in the defence of Ypres in Belgium in WW
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Born in Goulburn, he went to war at a young age. His sacrifice is so highly regarded by the citizens of Ypres that, in 2005, they donated a commemorative artwork to our local War Memorial.
The artwork was created by a Ypres artist and children and is a duplicate of a memorial that still stands in their church grounds.
Goulburn High is reciprocating the gesture with an exchange of artworks in association with the Kiwanis Club of Belgium.
With the help of our local RSL Sub-Branch, Goulburn High is also establishing a memorial in our school grounds. Recently, students built brick tier seating as part of a senior construction course. An elevated section with a metre-high by 12m-long retaining wall has been set aside as a garden area, pending funding. It will be used for seating and as a memorial to Leggett.
Goulburn High is designing and constructing a memorial, which will be in keeping with the artwork donated to the Rocky Hill War Memorial by the Belgian community.
Designs are being initiated by students as part of an arts course. All designs will be developed in close association with the Goulburn RSL Sub-Branch. The final piece will feature WWI scenes depicted in iron and steel work and will be incorporated into railings to be fixed to the top of the retaining wall.
The railings will be permanent structures and will be clearly visible form the school oval, many classrooms, the northern side of Victoria Park and to anyone passing by.
The memorial railing and seating will be opened on Remembrance Day.