VOICE of BYRON regular, Patricia Warren, draws attention to Byron Shire Council’s insensitive vote against recognising The WW1 Memorial Park in the Terrace, Brunswick Heads as a war memorial.
Patricia says, “The letter below was published in this week’s Echo.
“I do hope it generates discussion and certainly brings the Greens and the local RSL branch into account.
“Readers are advised that the Green Councillors refused to seek legal advice.
“I am aware that Cr Ndiaye took advice from local RSL branches.”
As published in the Echo… “The descendants of those old families in Bangalow, Byron Bay, Burringbar, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads, whose forefathers fought at Gallipoli and on the Western Front should be publicly outraged by Council’s decision not to recognise the WW1 Memorial Pine Park in the Terrace, Brunswick Heads as a war memorial.
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“War blooded and wearied, the returned soldiers planted approximately 500 Coastal Cypress Pines in grid formation over a land area representing the battle front of the Battle of Lone Pine in which over 2,200 Australian soldiers and between 5,000-6,000 Ottomans were killed or wounded. Seven Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross for their actions during that fighting.
“Of the original plantings approximately 100 pines are extant .
“It would appear that the local Brunswick-Billnudgle RSL’s executive, putting NSW Crown Holiday Parks Trust’s business interests ahead of our heritage, were successful in lobbying Councillor Sarah Ndiaye and the Greens in particular, to downgrade the land and pines to a lesser status as a ‘place of reflection and remembrance’.
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“Already listed with the NSW State Library as a war memorial, as an Avenue of Honour with Tree-net and on the National Trust of Australia, the local RSL’s position is in opposition to the Far North Coast District Council’s unanimous vote, November 2014 to recognise avenues of trees as war memorials. At that meeting the Brunswick-Billnudgle RSL abstained from voting.
“With the exception of Crs Coorey, Spooner and Hackett, Councillors’ decision is an appalling indictment of how far our elected representatives have removed, even alienated themselves from their constituents and our Anzac history.”
Unbelievable decision.
Service women and men everywhere should be absolutely gutted.
No one likes war but locals died heroically for the cause and should be remembered.
Absolutely disgusted with the Mayor for taking this stance.
UnAustralian!
As an ex serviceman I find the councils decision to not maintain the status as a war memorial inexcusable.The history of acts and deeds by past and present service people should be retained as a permanent reminder of the sacrifices made so we can enjoy the freedoms we now hold so dear