A former Waratah-Wynyard councillor is fighting to ensure Preolenna's military and community history is preserved.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A plaque inscribed with the names of 20 servicemen and women who served in the Second World War was installed on the Preolenna cenotaph in 1949.
Four of the men named on the plaque died in battle and their remains were never repatriated.
And now there is a proposal between the Waratah-Wynyard Council and the Wynyard RSL to remove the plaque and reinstall it 30km away at Gutteridge Gardens.
But former councillor Colleen Dibley has said to remove the plaque from Preolenna will be removing a vital part of the small community's heritage.
Mrs Dibley said she and her husband lived at Preolenna for 30 years, and the memorial is still important to the town's 15 local families.
"The community had it built, they had a local man actually make the plaque," Mrs Dibley said.
"It was established by the community. They formed their own committee, they raised their own funds and they ran a competition for the design.
"I always thought the RSL was supposed to be the keeper of community memory."
Wynyard RSL president Gavin Pearce said the RSL's priority is the memorial and veteran concerns.
I always thought the RSL was supposed to be the keeper of community memory.
- Colleen Dibley
"All we want is what's best for that memorial," Mr Pearce said.
"There is nothing worse than seeing something that is in bad repair or has been graffitied.
"We will certainly listen to everyone involved and hear any concerns raised. The main thing is that it is cared for."
Mr Pearce said the care and maintenance of the memorial is the jurisdiction of the council.
Read more
Waratah-Wynyard Council deputy mayor Mary Duniam said the council does not have a formal position on whether the plaque should be moved.
"Ex-councillor Dibley has put forward a very good case," Cr Duniam said.
"The situation is that the council don't own the cenotaph. The cenotaph at Preolenna is on crown land, it is community property.
"The Wynyard RSL are wanting to move [the plaque] to the Gutteridge Gardens so there is a central point [for the region's memorials]."
In a recent letter to a resident, Cr Duniam said to relocate the plaque to the gardens would reduce the risk of vandalism and improve the plaque's ongoing maintenance.
Cr Duniam said she believes a situation that benefits both Preolenna residents and the Wynyard RSL can be achieved.
The relocation is planned using a $3000 grant from the 2018-19 Teddy Sheean Memorial Program.
There are no formal plans to remove the cenotaph itself from Preolenna.
While you're with us, did you know that you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates and daily headlines direct to your inbox?