Finish off peace memorial – council

By Sarah Schwager
AFTER the success of the first Anzac Day celebration in Endeavour Hills, City of Casey Council has pushed for the completion of the Endeavour Hills Peace Memorial.
Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland said the amount of people who turned up to ceremonies around Casey proved the pride Australians felt for their war veterans.
Cr Morland said if council could help out with a bit of money for the memorial it would show that they supported those sentiments.
The motion to facilitate the completion of the Endeavour Hills memorial was carried unanimously by councillors at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Council will now apply to the Commonwealth Department of Veterans Affairs, the State Department of Victoria and the RSL for funding.
Casey deputy mayor Rob Wilson, who introduced the motion, said the memorial needed to be completed.
He said this was proved by the huge numbers at the Endeavour Hills Anzac Day celebrations.
“It is crazy to have the memorial half-finished when we could have it completely finished,” he said.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith said it was important that the memorial be known as a peace memorial rather than a war memorial.
“We need to set an example and get young people talking about issues to do with previous wars, but also peace in the future,” Cr Smith said.