STROUD’S cenotaph now carries the names of 130 men and women who served in World War 1.
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The names of the enlisted men and women are currently on the front of the Stroud Showground grandstand, but being marble, they were unable to be removed and taken to the cenotaph.
“They would have cracked so we decided to have them duplicated and placed on a special wall at the memorial,” Stroud’s John Bowen said.
“We have a big day planned for the Anzac service and a lot of families of returned men are coming back. These include the Hitchens’, Grant and Gamble families.”
The cenotaph received a spruce-up for last year’s Anzac Day service.
A plaque has been placed on rockwork at the nearby rotunda, naming it the Ex-Servicemen’s Memorial Rotunda.
The exercise was led by John Bowen and Neil Skeggs with help from Great Lakes councillor Karen Hutchinson. Mr Bowen said the rotunda came about following council moving their offices into the nearby RSL hall.
“They were cutting costs but I was so against it right from the beginning,” he said.
“It was our hall and how dare they take it off us. There was a lot of angst from a lot of people.
“But I’ve changed my mind and am happy to admit I am pleased with the final outcome.
“I could see the benefits in negotiating something else for us and that is where the rotunda came about.
“It was erected just before the 2013 Anzac Day service but since then the nearby trees have grown considerably and it looks great.”
Last year the cenotaph received a facelift with new tiling around the base, a new plaque and a new rising sun.
Late last year Stroud received $14,030 from the federal government for the construction of the memorial wall and new plaques.
“We also received donations from the Lions Club, Stroud Show and Duralie mine, and while we had to modify what we were originally going to do, it has turned out exactly what we wanted,” Mr Skeggs said.
“We are going to make this Anzac Day one to remember and Stroud Historical Society has joined with us to put together a World War 1 display in the baby health centre.”
For many years there was no Anzac Day march in Stroud.
But since the Nashos (National Servicemen's Association of NSW) have been recognised, a march has been carried out for the past 12 or so years.
“The three local schools (Stroud, Stroud Road and Booral) get involved and they are all going to march this year,” Mr Bowen said.
The march will begin at 8am on the corner of Cowper St and Memorial Avenue and proceed down to the cenotaph.
“In the past myself and other organisers have gone back over to Dungog to help with their service as they come and help us, but we have organised a breakfast here at 9am,” Mr Bowen said.
“We will have tents set up in the street and the choir will perform in the rotunda.
“All we need now is good weather.”
The official unveiling of the plaques was carried out by federal Member for Paterson Bob Baldwin last Saturday.