Official welcome for new War Memorial

MORE than 600 people visited Anglesea’s Cameron Park on Sunday for the opening of the town’s long-awaited War Memorial.

Local RSL members raised the Australian, New Zealand and RSL flags for the first time at the official opening.

Anglesea resident and former Veteran’s Affairs Minister Michael Ronaldson opened the new memorial, with current Wannon MP Dan Tehan also in attendance.

Residents returned to the town’s bowls club for well overdue community catch-ups following the ceremony.

The new memorial is the most complete record of servicepeople ever complied for Anglesea and the first such record on open display for the public.

The Anglesea War Memorial Committee formed with representatives from the town’s RSL, historical society and Lions Club to launch the project.

The committee raised $70,000 from its own fundraising activities and generous community donations.

The memorial plaques bear the names of 394 people from Anglesea and district, including Bellbrae, Aireys Inlet, Moggs Creek and Eastern View, that have served in the Australian Defence Force during military conflicts.

Aireys Inlet stonemason Steve Duff shaped the centrepiece stone wall, which includes the plaques, handcrafted ADF insigna and front lighting.

Three uplit flagpoles and an adjacent stone bench seat complete the Anglesea project.

The memorial committee is continuing to accept donations for upkeep of the town’s War Memorial, and will continue research into the region’s military history to ensure complete records.