Left: The Narre Warren North community war memorial is set to undergo $4000 worth of repair works. Left to right: Narre Warren North Primary School student Alex, acting assistant principal Chris Trimnell, Claudia and Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan.
By Rebecca Fraser
THE Narre Warren North war memorial, an icon of the town, is set for restoration.
The memorial will have repairs to the value of $4000 following a State Government announcement last week.
The grant follows a submission from the suburb’s community association and Narre Warren North Primary School.
Life member of the Narre Warren North Community Association Bob Street said the group was thrilled with the news that the memorial was set for a facelift.
In 2004, Mr Street said, an Anzac Day ceremony attracted 600 people to the memorial, including many young children.
He said the commemorative site needed to be preserved for future generations.
“This is a very important project and I really do advocate looking after the memorial and our avenue of honour.
“The Narre Warren North community takes a lot of pride in the memorial and are very keen to see it improved.
“Maybe when the works are finished we can hold another Anzac Day there.”
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan said many community war memorials and honour rolls dated back to World War I.
He said the Narre Warren North memorial dated back to 1914 and recorded the names of local men and women who put their lives on the line for our country.
“Victoria’s war memorials and honour rolls are the physical expression of the community’s gratitude we owe to those who sacrificed their lives, often in distant parts of the world.
“In restoring these memorials we do more than preserve the memories of the men and women they honour. We pay homage to the communities that built those memorials, the communities of our parents and grandparents.
“I understand in this instance the project has been a joint venture between the local primary school, Narre Warren North Primary School and the Narre Warren North Community Association.
“It is marvellous that the younger members of our community are experiencing and learning about the sacrifice others made on their behalf, ” Mr Donnellan said.
Acting assistant principal at Narre Warren North Primary School Chris Trimnell said the memorial was a great community engagement project.
She said Narre Warren North was a tightly knit community and she was pleased that the students had the opportunity to be included in local activities.
Ms Trimnell said students would be helping to plant trees around the memorial and were keen to be involved.
