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I would like to comment with regard to the Narromine War Memorial Cenotaph, and it being "uprooted" and moved.
I do not have a lot of knowledge about this most important part of our community, as too who erected it, paid for it etc, and even though I'm not a local, nor would I know any of the names on it, to me, for what it stands for makes it sacred.
Narromine is very fortunate to have so many men, young men as they most probably would have been, prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, and lay down their lives not only for Australia but for Narromine.
To some whose loved ones have their names inscribed on this Cenotaph, this may be all they have.
If their loved ones never came home, there would not be a grave at the cemetery that they could visit, but the cenotaph is always there, right where it was built, all those years ago, and that could bring a certain amount of comfort to some.
Some people think of the Cenotaph as only concrete with some names on it, I think this is heartless, inappropriate and callous.
The Cenotaph is so much more than that to a lot of people.
My concerns are that if this beautiful monument is uplifted and moved and due to the stresses placed on it by the shifting, is severely damaged or worse still destroyed, what will the reaction from those who sanctioned this be.
I don't think "oops" will be sufficient.
This Cenotaph is irreplaceable. You can build an exact replica of it, but it won't be the same, it won't be that Cenotaph, where so many of Nnarromine's returned servicemen and women and their families have gathered in the cold or the rain on ANZAC Day as the dawn breaks, and Reveille sounds, to pay their respect to Narromine's sons who didn't come home from the war.
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I realise that there are problems with the Cenotaph staying where it is, but don't shift the Cenotaph, remove the problems. Problems that have been causing damage to it for a considerable time.
They didn't just happen overnight. There has to be enough knowledge within council and other areas to sort out these issues. Perhaps shifting the Cenotaph is viewed as the easiest option.
Council has secured some funding for this project but I believe the funds are able to be used to either restore the Cenotaph or move it.
At last (week's) council meeting it was decided the Cenotaph would be moved, despite some very sound arguments put up by a couple of councillors to restore it and leave it where it is.
I fail to see the logic in moving the Cenotaph when council's main concern for the Cenotaph's safety is the fact it's close to traffic and they are claiming that this is doing damage to this beautiful monument; yet when they move it to stand beside the Rememberance Wall they are still going to allow trucks and caravans etc to pull into that area to park.
When this occurs, not only will our Cenotaph be subjected to the same traffic problems that is council's excuse for moving it, there will also be the added vibrations from trains due to it's close proximity to the railway tracks and there are some very heavy trains come through, particularly carrying grain etc. Rail traffic is very intense during the grain season
The first time I ever came to Narromine was about 1985, I was going to Warren. As I came down Burroway Street the first thing that really caught my eye was the Cenotaph. I couldn't get over how beautiful and majestic it was, and what a great place it was for it to be standing.
In a lot of places the Cenotaphs are sort of "tucked' away and unless you really look, sometimes they're very hard to find, but on that day there was Narromine's Cenotaph, almost saying here I am, look at me, I represent some very important people of this community, see, their names are engraved on me.
Councillors, please give this a lot of thought, even just to move it to near the wall will put it under strain, not only from the move but also from the vibrations from the trains.
If it was to be moved out of that area all together, well that would be shameful. Who wants to look at another expanse of bitumin with vehicles parked on it. Also, as far as I know, vandalism has not been too much of a problem, but move the Cenotaph to a less conspicuous place and see what happens when it's not as visible.
Another major concern I have is with the centenary of the Gallipoli landing in 2015, will the Cenotaph be ready for this most important ANZAC Day?
They say it has to be pulled apart to be shifted and they don't even know what is happening to it under the ground where it now stands. Twelve months is not a long time to achieve all of this and you can almost be certain that it will not go smoothly when a time frame is involved.
Whose faces will be red if come ANZAC Day 2015, the Cenotaph is not ready? It could happen! If this happens my outcry will be "shame councillors, shame."
The Cenotaph has stood there for a lot of years, since 1924 I believe, and it's not to blame that times have changed, it doesn't take up much room in the grand scheme of things, and it's committed no crime in being there.
Somethings need to remain the same to remind communities where their roots are and of the price which was paid by some, to ensure the safety of this great land and our freedom.
I like to think that the spirits of those whose names are inscribed on it, are back in their home town again, gathering at the Centotaph every ANZAC Day, but if the Cenotaph is moved they won't know where to find it.
Thank You,
Dawn Brydon