Repairs will be carried out on this memorial in Thirroul. Photo: Guillaume David.
Thirroul’s First World War memorial will undergo some much-needed conservation work thanks to almost $10,000 in funding from the NSW Government.
The Austinmer Thirroul RSL sub-Branch has received $9933 to spruce up and preserve the Thirroul War Memorial in Woodward Memorial Park ahead of Memorial Day this Monday (11 November).
The memorial, which was built in 1920, consists of a sandstone pedestal and water fountain, topped with a statue of a soldier wearing a slouch hat and holding a rifle.
It will benefit from repairs and replacement of previous repairs, which will involve carefully removing the old patches and replacing them with new synthetic stone repairs to match the existing colour and texture.
The work is ongoing following a previous conservation report in July 2022, when some $15,000 was spent carrying out restoration work to the memorial, including rectification of weathering/deterioration to the soldier, minor delamination of the stonework, and moderate delamination of the previous repairs to the stone, major losses of the coating/painting on the lettering, lifting of several tiles and the removal of biological growth.
This work improved the condition of the memorial, but there are further signs of deterioration, and a need for rectification to stop erosion by the elements.
Lord Mayor of the City of Wollongong Tania Brown, who studied war memorials as part of a unit at university, said the Thirroul memorial, with its beautiful depiction of a soldier, was a “unique monument” that needed to be conserved.
“It’s so important we preserve our history and that recognition for those from our community who’ve given their lives or gone to war,” she said.
“We want our young people to see these memorials, ask the question and learn about what people in their communities have done.
“We know our aging infrastructure needs to be carefully handled, so I thank the Austinmer Thirroul RSL sub-Branch for doing this work on behalf of all of us.”
The grant is part of a broader $128,358 in NSW Government funding for care and upkeep of 15 war memorials across the state from Broken Hill to Bland, Port Stephens to Sussex Inlet, Tamworth to Thirroul.
Minister for Veterans David Harris announced that grants ranging from $2000 to $15,000 were awarded to local councils, RSL sub-Branches and community groups throughout metropolitan, regional and rural NSW from round one of the 2024/25 Community War Memorials Fund.
“Our communities are proud of their military history, and it is wonderful to announce this funding for local war memorials across the state,” he said.
“I encourage all communities to review the status of their local war memorials and to apply for funding for any restoration work that is needed.”
Twenty-six applications were received in this round, and Thirroul’s was unanimously supported by the State War Memorials Committee.
Round two of the grant program will open this Remembrance Day. Changes will be made to the Community War Memorials Fund schedule in 2025, and more details will be released closer to that time.
For more information visit Veterans Affairs.
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