Nillumbik memorials

The Hurstbridge Memorial Park interpretative signage was launched this week by Mr Andrew Giles MP, Federal Member for Scullin with Nillumbik Shire Council Mayor, Cr. Helen Coleman.

The Hurstbridge Avenue of Honour plaque was also dedicated to local soldiers by Cr. Coleman.

Local students from the Hurstbridge Learning co-operative and Hurstbridge Primary School read the poem and story behind “In Flanders Field”.  One student, Mia read out a poem she had written herself “Lest We Forget”.  The audience were told about the recent Anzac Day commemorations at the Primary School which included crafting poppies and planting an Oak Tree – a descendant from a tree at Gallipoli.

The Memorial park was originally developed by the community’s horticultural group and consisted of 50 trees, three of which still remain.  Only 26 names were registered.

Today’s event follows the launch last month of the markers at the historic entrance to the Eltham Gateway and site of the original Avenue of Honour where about 100 trees were planted and cared for by the local community following World War One.

These Anzac Centenary Projects were funded by Federal and State government funds.  It is hoped that these new projects not only honour – but create conversations about –  local WW1 enlistments, and  the communities on the home front and indeed those who worked tirelessly to first build memorials and plant avenues of honour so that Lest we Forget..

Nillumbik Council welcomes veterans affairs grants

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Hon. Damian Drum joined with Mayor, Cr Michael Young, Cr

Bronnie Hattam and Cr Meralyn Klein recently at Wingrove Park Eltham to announce that

Council has been awarded two grants.

Mr Drum said, “The grant of $11,050 will go towards improving the Eltham Avenue of

Honour and installing an interpretative bronze plaque dedicated to those who served in

World War 1. Council will also get $1050 for a memorial plaque at the Hurstbridge Avenue

of Honour.

The grants have been funded by the Victorian Government Department of Veterans Affairs,

from the ‘Restoring Community War Memorials’ fund.

The original Eltham Avenue of Honour had 113 plane trees, one to commemorate every

Eltham resident who served in World War 1. Each tree had a plaque with the name of an

enlistee on the Avenue which ran from the junction of Mount Pleasant and Main Roads,

continuing along Main Road, ending at the junction of Pitt Street.

Due to road widening, disease, storms, accidents and the installation of cabling and pipes,

many of the original trees have disappeared. In the past twenty years the Shire of

Nillumbik has replanted plane trees at a further distance from the road, but only 15 of the

original trees remain, scarred from successive and necessary pruning by the power

companies, stunted by their struggle to gain sustenance from Eltham’s famously shallow

soil.

It is much the same story for the Hurstbridge Avenue of Honour which originally had 50

elm trees along what is now named Anzac Avenue. With only 3 of the original trees

remaining this grant will help restore the Avenue to life.

Cr Young said, “We are delighted to receive this funding which will go toward the creation

of commemorative plaques and signage for future generations to come. As we move

toward the Centenary of the Anzac it is important that our Nillumbik Anzac story is

preserved and enhanced through our Avenues of Honour at Eltham and Hurstbridge.

Thank you goes to the Nillumbik Memorials Advisory Committee, chaired by Cr Meralyn

Klein, the Eltham-Montmorency RSL, Eltham District Historical Society, Hurstbridge RSL,

Hurstbridge Traders Association and the Hurstbridge Historical Group.

Source of news article: Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser and Diamond Creek Valley Advocate 19 September 1919 via Trove

Whittlesea War Memorial

The Whittlesea RSL has received funding to restore the Whittlesea War Memorial.

Historical markers Database

Are there any historical markers in your area? Have they been documented? Consider adding them to the Historical Markers Database, although a majority of its current content is American, it looks like it will accept registrations from anywhere. It already has over 20,000 markers currently listed and described on its website making it a terrific tool for exploring United States Local History. A search for Australia does give some interesting results including information and links to George Chaffey of Mildura fame. Is there a Victorian or Australian equivalent to this database?

The nearest I know of is the War Memorials database in Australia