A NEW park situated between Gosport and Alice streets will ‘bring home’ local WWI personnel.
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Moree Plains Shire councillor, John Tramby, said the Anzac Centenary Park would have a plaque listing all of the brave soldiers who fought in the war.
“So far there are 194 names and there will be a lot of research ahead. We want to list their army numbers, surname, date listed, age, where and when they were killed and where they are buried,” he said.
Cr Tramby said if there was no information on where the local was buried it would be listed as ‘no known grave’.
“It’s a chance to bring home these soldiers and give them a local grave site… Some of them won’t have a proper grave at all, so it’s will be a touching thing for many of the families,” he said.
The park is already part of stage two of bypass plans and has been funded by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) along with support from the state and federal governments.
A number of trees will be planted to equal the number of young men killed at Gallipoli who enlisted in the Moree shire, Mr Tramby said.
“It doesn’t permit space to plant 200 trees for all those fallen during WW1 so I suggested those who died at Gallipoli, and at this stage I have identified 19.
“I have received an idea from one community member suggesting we plant Kurrajong trees. A lot of young men enlisted as part of the Kurrajong march as volunteers to replace the men lost at Anzac Cove. We remember those lost, but also those that replaced them,” Mr Tramby said.
“Kurrajong trees are native to our area, long living and provide good shade. They are used as forage during drought so are significant to our area.”
There will be a paved area with seating and plaques acknowledging the significant areas.
Cr Tramby said the park was hoped to be completed by April.
If you have a family member who may have not been identified for the memorial plaque, contact Cr Tramby by calling the council on 6757 3222.