A cenotaph—originating from the Greek term kenotaphion meaning “empty tomb”—is a public monument erected to honour and remember individuals who died in war but whose remains are buried or lost elsewhere.  These monuments vary in design, from a simple free-standing plinth or column to a sarcophagus-shaped stone, a grand arch, or a classical four-sided Grecian obelisk tapering to a pyramidal top.  They are typically made from sandstone, marble, or bronze and may feature wreaths, inscriptions, classical sculptures, or a simple list of the fallen.

A war memorial has a broader meaning, as it includes not only structures, statues, plaques, or gardens dedicated to communal memory and gratitude for those who have fallen, but also honours those who served and returned.

In this context, the Lorne Anzac Memorial Park is a war memorial rather than a cenotaph, as it commemorates both those who served and those who fell in battle.  Although originally erected in 1923 to commemorate the First World War—often still referred to as “the Great War”—it also honours the local men and women who fought for Australia in the Second World War and, more broadly, the Korean, Vietnam, and Afghan conflicts and the East Timor peace-keepers.

Although there was community unease each time our memorial was moved like a piece on a chessboard, there is now much relief that it seems to have finally found a permanent home.

The original free-standing cenotaph was erected in the Library paddock behind the school and was paired with a red gum Avenue of Honour that stretched diagonally across the paddock now occupied by the sports oval.  Each tree bore a metal plaque honouring a serviceman.  However, when it was decided to relocate the oval from its original position on the foreshore flat to its current site at Stribling Reserve, the cenotaph had to be moved, and the Avenue fell to the saw.  Sadly, the plaques were lost.

Its first relocation was to the Erskine riverbank near the current Information Centre, but when this site was threatened in 1968 by the reconstruction of the Erskine River Bridge, the Country Roads Board requested it be moved again.  It found its third ‘home’ at the swimming pool, where it was embedded into the pool fence facing the car park.

Then, in 2001, the memorial was moved once more when the Foreshore Committee decided to redevelop the swimming pool area into a larger recreational space and carpark.  It was re-established for the fourth time on a poorly grassed spot at the bend of Mountjoy Parade—where Leon Armistead’s Caltex garage, Mocean surfboards, and Yates, then Henderson’s, then Riordan’s, Lorne Hardware had once stood.

Somehow, the plinth seemed lonely there, on its own, vaguely out of place, and unloved.  Year after year, Doug Stirling—our last surviving World War II veteran—would turn up on Anzac Day, partnered by his fellow veteran, Geoff Jarratt, armed with his tape-recorded Last Post and Reveille bugle calls.  Together, they would stand by the plinth and remember friends and honour the fallen.  Not once did the ever-dwindling crowd daunt them.  When Geoff died a few years ago, Doug soldiered on alone—and still does.  This town owes much to this noble man for his near-solitary effort in keeping the spirit of Lorne’s Anzac Day alive.

Enter RSL President Neil Hillard, his wife, and RSL Secretary Kim Huffman, Clive Goldsworthy, Sam Coulson, Craig Hunt, Peter Wheal, and June Adams—a group of stalwarts who have revitalised the local RSL and enlisted GORCAPA and a host of volunteers to improve the space over the last few years.  Sculptures, historical plaques, an Aleppo pine tree grown from the seeds of a pinecone brought back from Gallipoli in 1916 by Keith McDowell of Warrnambool, and newly-planted, well-maintained lawns and gardens have now created a memorial park of which the town can be justly proud.

Moreover, the tireless Doug Stirling and community dynamo Garry Fenton inspired the 2025 VCE VM  (Vocational Major) students and teachers to restore the Avenue of Honour on the school grounds and reimagine the missing plaques.  Visit it, scan the QR codes beside the new plaques made for each World War I serviceman, and discover their stories.  When unveiled by Dan Tehan, Federal Member for Wannon, in late October 2025, the effort the four year-12 student amigos put into this project was highly commended … see SCT: Committee for Lorne Report: p18: 07/11/2025 … and will long be remembered.  Thank you, all four.

 

This brings us to 2026 and the official opening of the Lorne Anzac Memorial Park, again by Dan Tehan, scheduled on-site for March 27^th.  With special thanks to Doug and Clive, the very real threat of Lorne’s Anzac Day commemorations being merged into a joint out-of-town service at Winchelsea or Colac has passed.  Anzac Day remains in Lorne, and its commemoration has gone from strength to strength.

Now, beginning with a dawn service [attended last year by around two hundred early risers] with the reward of a ‘Gunfire Breakfast’ provided by the Men’s Shed in the Bowls Club carpark immediately afterwards, an 11.00 am commemorative ceremony is held at the plinth.  Now, several hundred people attend.  An annual highlight is the New Zealand contribution from our local Māori identity, Pakitu Henry, who colourfully represents our New Zealand cousins—as only Paki could do.  With the laying of wreaths, brief speeches by local dignitaries, and renditions of the anthems by the school choir, it remains, along with the annual Christmas Carols on the Lawn, as the only two ‘whole-of-community gatherings’ of the year.

After wandering the town for more than 100 years, it seems that Lorne’s War Memorial has finally found a permanent, valued, and well-cared-for place to call home.  To everyone who made it happen, please accept the thanks of a grateful community.

As war clouds threaten from all sides once more, a space to remember the horrors of war and to come together as a community in hope that it will not happen again becomes increasingly important.

As we gather again on ANZAC Day 2026, this thought will be at the forefront, giving the day even greater significance.  Lorne welcomes you all to this moving and meaningful morning—it is an annual moment that makes one feel especially proud and thankful to be an Australian or a New Zealander.

John Agar
Feature Writer

 

A word from the chairman

Hello

Just when you were thinking about pulling the covers over your head and staying in bed on a bleak morning, Channel 9’s Today programme came to Lorne last Monday for its weather reports.  There were early morning starts for the venues that featured, including the Grand Pacific Hotel and Live Wire Park, and then it was down to the beach under a gloomy sky where presenter Tim Davies took part in a Go Ride a Wave surf lesson before frolicking in the surf with our irrepressible Mermaids.  The Mermaids showed their true character by heading in and out of the water three times in the space of an hour to comply with the programme schedule and ensure maximum exposure for Lorne.  Congratulations to all who participated and gave Lorne some much-needed positive publicity after the last couple of months.

*****

The threat of bushfires is all but past for this year and as reported in last week’s column, Forest Fire Management are now commencing planned burns around Lorne, see www.ffm.vic.gov.au for details .

While we may experience some inconvenience with smoke in the air and temporary road closures, it is important to understand how the planned burning program has supported firefighting efforts this summer.

To quote from Forest Fire Management (FFM)

“For more than a decade we’ve been implementing a strategic planned burning program across the Otways.  In several locations this summer, the bushfires ran into areas that had been treated with planned burns done in previous years – including a number completed around 2022.

In some cases when the bushfire reached these treated areas it stopped entirely.  In others, the intensity of the fire dropped significantly because there was less fuel available to burn.  This made a huge difference for firefighters.  It allowed crews to shift from defensive firefighting – protecting homes and assets – to actively containing the fire.  Bulldozers could safely construct control lines, ground crews could work closer to the fire edge, and aerial water bombing was far more effective.

This happened multiple times during the campaign.

One key example was near the Gellibrand River Pumping Station, where a previous planned burn helped prevent the Kennedys Creek and Carlisle River fires from joining together.  If those fires had merged earlier in the campaign, we likely would have seen a much larger fire in the landscape much sooner, with greater potential impacts to surrounding communities.

Our key takeaway from this season is simple: planned burning genuinely helps firefighters control bushfires and protect communities.”

We are grateful for the professional management of FFM in protecting our community and we thank them, our local CFA brigade and all CFA and SES volunteers for continuing to keep us, our properties and our assets safe.

*****

Round 1 of the 2026 football and netball seasons kick off at Stribling Reserve on Friday April 3 (Good Friday) against Apollo Bay.  Tickets are selling fast for the season launch lunch (seafood to appease the Catholics!) to be held at Stribling Reserve Pavilion from 12 noon.  For bookings contact Janet on 0413121574.

Cheers

John

Lorne Ward Events Calendar

March

9-22                 Artist in Residence (AIR) Joshua James, at Lorne Community Connect

Workshops focusing on explaining the process of design and symbols within his artwork. Saturday 21 Mar & Sunday 22 Mar 10 am – 11 am.

22                    Deans Marsh Festival, Live music, local harvest, market stalls, dog jumping, kids events and much more. 10am – 3pm at Deans Marsh Reserve.

22                    March afternoon tea with Josh James, at 3 pm, Lorne Community Connect.
Includes giveaways and specials.

27                    Lorne Anzac Memorial Park Official Opening @2pm

 

April              

2                      Photographic Exhibition Opening, 5 pm at Lorne Community Connect

3                      Lorne Dolphins Football and Netball V Apollo Bay, at Stribling Reserve, juniors match from 8:45am, seniors at 2pm      

3-12                 Photographic Exhibition, at Lorne Community Connect 10 am – 5 pm

4                      Lorne Market, 9-3pm www.lornemarkets.com/