Pavilion honours service
A NEW pavilion housing honour boards naming enlistees from the West Riding of the Shire of Woorayl who served in The Great War has quietly gone up inside the memorial gates of Leongatha Recreation Reserve.
Last Wednesday marked the completion of the structure which is designed to complement the adjacent 1918 Avenue of Honour along Yarragon Road and the Wild Dog Valley Road.
When first planted, each of the 250 elm and oak trees making up the Avenue of Honour, had at their bases a plaque bearing the name of a local soldier who fought in the war.
Recent research conducted by Lyn Skillern, the secretary of the Leongatha and District Historical Society, uncovered more names which have been added to those lives commemorated at the pavilion which now numbers 337.
The new installation will be officially opened at a ceremony on Sunday, January 31 to be attended by the president of the Victorian branch of the RSL, Major General David McLachlan AO (retired).
The South Gippsland Shire Brass Band has been engaged to play at the ceremony.
Leongatha RSL identified the project as one befitting the centenary of ANZAC and the location of the facility is adjacent to the top end of the Avenue of Honour and away from the road.
By the time landscaping has been completed, the facility is expected to have cost in the vicinity of $25,000.
This was funded by a Victorian Veterans Council, Anzac Centenary Community Grants Program grant of $20,000, and the balance was funded by the RSL.
The pavilion was constructed by TS Constructions and the plaques made by Leongatha’s Williams Signs.
Building began in October and has included the installation of new signage at each end of the Avenue of Honour.
Extra landscaping will include a flagpole and picnic table.
With the proposed restoration of the adjacent recreation reserve memorial gates, it is envisaged this will be a place of reflection befitting the legacy of those who served in The Great War.
Mark Patterson of TS Constructions, also a committee member of the Leongatha Recreation Reserve which oversaw the building project, said solar panels to light the shelter are soon to be installed.
Below is the full list of the names on the honour roll, with name, service, rank number, roll, date of embark, place and ship:
Reflection: from left, manager of the Leongatha RSL Anne Davies and TS Construction’s Mark Patterson test the seating in the new pavilion which offers a place of reflection for visitors to remember the 337 locals who served in World War One. The plaques name O. Morris, nurse, as the one female enlistee whose service is commemorated.
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