Push for memorial

A MOORABOOL RSL branch is calling on the community to put pressure on Council for a new war memorial, while Council says plans for the area are undergoing consultation.

The Bacchus Marsh RSL Sub-Branch has been in discussions with Moorabool Shire Council for more than a year on a memorial they hope to have established at the Village Green on Main Street.

President of the Sub-Branch, Michael Baxter, said multiple ideas had been raised, including allowing the community to purchase an engraved brick to be placed on a pathway.

“All discussions with Council have been negative. We are continually told no to all requests for a memorial on the Village Green,” Mr Baxter said.

“There are much smaller towns within Victoria that have beautiful memorials.

“We’re asking for the community to get behind us and push Council for a memorial on the Village Green, or stand with us and continue to ask why we can’t have a memorial.”

Vice President of the Sub-Branch, Sheila Freeman, said the RSL had suggested a memorial similar to one at Casino in New South Wales, where the MAPP Up In Lights art galleries are now located, but this was rejected due to those galleries being planned.

“So we went back to the drawing board and came up with a smaller memorial similar in size to one at the Sunshine RSL and to be placed on the other side of the tree on the Village Green in line with the flagpoles,” Ms Freeman said.

“Council Officers were quite pleased with this, and offered us the wood from the trees that had to be removed from the Avenue of Honour, and this wood could be sculptured into life size figures, Army, Navy, Air Force, and an Army Nurse representing all Service Nurses.

“So we went back to the drawing board again, and on 5 September 2023 a further proposal was put forward to Council, and we requested a letter of support from Council so that we could submit a grant application.

“The grant closed on 21 September 2023. On 18 September 2023 we were advised that the proposal could not go to a Councillors briefing until November 2023.”

In December 2023, Ms Freeman said, “we had a meeting with Council officers and a Councillor, who informed us that no memorial of any kind can go on the Village Green as the Council is putting out a plan for public consultation”.

Moorabool Shire Council CEO, Derek Madden, said funding had been provided by Council for a memorial, with consultation now in the works.

“The Bacchus Marsh RSL has received $3000 in funding through Council’s community grants program to install a War Memorial mural on the side of the Bacchus Marsh RSL building, which will face the Village Green,” Mr Madden said.

“Council officers are assisting the RSL with commissioning this work and are working through heritage requirements of the installation.

“We are also finalising consultation of our Bacchus Marsh Township Plan, which will inform future development of the township, including permanent memorials.

“Regarding MAPP in Lights, Council officers have partnered with both Bacchus Marsh and Ballan RSL to install RSL memorabilia in the MAPP in Light boxes during ANZAC Day commemorations.”