Council and RSL Partnership to Preserve Memorials
- Media Releases
Port Pirie Regional Council and the RSL Port Pirie branch are working together to preserve our region’s history and honour the significant contributions of our service personnel.
With Council’s support, the RSL Port Pirie branch has applied for grant funding from several sources and has been successful in obtaining $9220 for repairs to the Navy Memorial and $3400 for the Cenotaph Repairs at the Port Pirie Garden of Memory War Cemetery. In addition, the RSL has applied for $2307 for the South East Asian Memorial which is currently being appraised.
The RSL has also asked for Expressions of Interest from the Veteran community to have input into establishing a Middle East Memorial.
“It is crucial to preserve and maintain our war memorials as they are significant pieces of history and are just as important as grave/headstone memorials,” said Gary Fradd, Secretary of RSL Port Pirie.
Completed projects include:
- Woodward Park Gates
Council refurbished the Oliver Woodward Gates on the southern end of Woodward Park. These gates honour one of Port Pirie’s great war heroes Captain Oliver Holmes Woodward. The refurbishment included repainting and straightening the gates, fixing hinges and gate panels and repairs to the brickwork.
- War Graves
Council remediated the headstones on the war graves in the Port Pirie Cemetery. Originally, the front section of the war graves had plaques on single blocks which were deteriorating beyond repair. Council has constructed beams and installed the plaques on these to add symmetry and structure to the war graves area.
- RSL Crossing and Car Parking
Council recently completed a new crossing along The Terrace between the Port Pirie Trotting Track and the RSL and installed a pedestrian refuge in the middle of the road. This crossing is already being used well by the community, particularly by elderly patrons who attended the Senior Citizens Christmas Party recently. Council also created indented car parking in Seymour Street to alleviate previous parking issues.
Council looks forward to continuing its partnership with RSL Port Pirie into the future with some exciting projects planned for this financial year, including:
- World War One Gates Stone Works
Repairs to the stone work at the World War One Gates (Memorial Drive).
- War Graves Cenotaph
Works are planned to tile the base of the cenotaph to repair the lifts in the existing terrazzo finish.
- Navy Memorial Stone Works
Replacing stones and mortar at the Navy Memorial.
Port Pirie’s long term plan also includes a digital Military Heritage Trail being developed for the Port Pirie area, allowing locals and tourists to follow the trail and learn more about Port Pirie’s significant military history. The Military Heritage Trail will include interactive mapping for key sites, interesting facts about memorials and stories about local service personnel.