AN additional four plaques to commemorate the Boer War, Korea and Malaysia, National servicemen and Vietnam will be fixed to one of the blank sides of the Gilgai War Memorial obelisk.
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They were obtained by Gilgai Public Hall and Recreation Reserves Trust, which took over the care of the memorial in 2011 after a War Memorial Committee could not be found.
The hall trust organised a grant from the Department of Veteran’s Affairs from their Saluting Their Service grants program worth $3500. Trust Chair Hans Ebbling said the plaques were made by Phoenix Foundary in Uralla.
“All four plaques will be put on the obelisk before Anzac Day,” he said.
Mr Ebbling said he had never served with the armed forces, but his father had served with the Dutch army and then with the Dutch resistance during World War II.
“Let’s be honest, the Gallipoli thing was a total disaster that our forces were forced to endure, shall we say. I mean that was just a fiasco that should never have happened, but it was the making of Australia, that absolutely brought out the best,” Mr Ebbling said.
“We want to hold a dedication ceremony, but we don’t know when yet. I have to have a meeting with one of my committee members with the president of the Inverell RSL to find out just what we do next.”
“But it will be done by Anzac Day.”
The Gilgai memorial cost 157 pounds and was unveiled following its dedication by Reverend E H Stammer on Monday, August 5 1923. A further dedication was added to it following Word War II.
