Digital project to honour Geelong’s fallen

THE legacy of the Geelong region’s fallen Anzacs will be made accessible to everyone as part of a new heritage project run by Geelong Regional Libraries.

Geelong Honours Them will see the digitisation of literally hundreds of World War One Honour boards that are scattered across the region’s four local government areas.

Honour boards list the names of those who served and died in World War I and are an invaluable part of our local heritage.

They inform the social history of the time by connecting those men and women named to their school, church, sporting club, community group or local defence force support group.

The project will see the honour boards that are spread across the Borough of Queenscliffe, City of Greater Geelong, Golden Plains Shire and Surf Coast Shire municipalities digitally captured and displayed for posterity.

Geelong Regional Libraries is embarking on the project with the support of the Victorian Government with funding provided by the Victoria Remembers Major Grant Program.

Minister for Veterans John Eren made the funding announcement at the official launch of Geelong Honours Them, which took place yesterday (Wednesday) at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre.

“The Victorian Government honours the service and sacrifice of our veterans by supporting projects such as this,” he said.

Geelong Regional Library Corporation Board chair Cr Margot Smith said the project also offered the opportunity to share information about the wartime history of the region via the website at geelonghonoursthem.grlc.vic.gov.au.

“The Geelong Honours Them project presents a unique chance to share stories about the local men and women named on the honour boards that has not previously been recorded or preserved.

“Current and future generations will be able to access these beautiful memorials online and, for those researching family history, it will provide a unique connection to their ancestors.”