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There have been a lot of comments and opinions printed in your paper and I would like to explain to you why nine out nine councillors were of the view that the Cenotaph should be repaired and moved.
The issue has been around for more than 25 years. In the past I was also of the opinion that it should not be moved but had not considered all the information that is now before council.
On behalf of the community, council is the custodian of the Cenotaph. It is council's duty to maintain the Cenotaph in good order as a memorial to those who have served our country in wars since 1914, many of whom gave their lives that we might live as we do today.
Council, over a lot of years, has been aware of structural and ageing problems with the Cenotaph. Of recent times we have employed a civil engineer and stonemason to give us advice on its exact condition. Both these reports indicate that the structure has serious problems and if we do not address them then we won't have the memorial into the future.
So ,ouncil must take action or future generations will not have a memorial.
The reports indicate that a lot of the material in the monument has either deteriorated to the stage that it cannot be reused or there is doubt about its viability to last into the future.
One positive is that the honour rolls are salvageable. So regardless of where the Cenotaph is rebuilt, it is imperative that we accept the best quote for all the material and reconstruction or we again will not have a monument for future generations.
To take a risk on the viability of the old material is too great. It will obviously age differently to the new material and future generations will ask 'Why did they do that?'
On the cost issues, we already have $60,000 but that is subject to time constraints and we have already been warned that we will lose this funding if we don't proceed now. Council will do its utmost to find further external funding. At worst we will have to fund it ourselves, I'm sure the community would rather do this than have no monument in the future.
So I come to where to put it. This has been the issue utmost in the minds of all of us.
I have to say I am impressed with three things Peter Kierath said at the public meeting. Firstly the square is the most important part of town. Secondly, the Cenotaph is the most important and iconic part of the square and should be given the number one priority of position and thirdly, over the years, the square and park have been developed with ad hoc decisions and no overall vision of what was wanted.
So council will employ a landscape architect to give us an overall plan for the area, with the placement of the Cenotaph as number one priority.
Because people put forward so many ideas and opinions at our successful public meeting, I would like to make some comments.
To those who want to do nothing and leave it where it is, council does not have that option. Council is the custodian of the Cenotaph and owes it to the community to maintain it in such a way that it will be there for many more generations to enjoy and appreciate.
To rebuild exactly where it is, is illogical. At present ANZAC and Rememberance Day are the only two times a year when people can stand near and admire it without the risk of being run over. So as a very minimum it needs moving a little to the south to allow some paving or grass for visitors, school children, etc to be safe on.
There was some concern expressed about the risk of vandalism to the new structure. Obviously its new home will be in a very prominent position and will be very well lit.
I cannot see the risk being any greater than at the moment and we will have taken away the risk of it being damaged by vehicles as is the case at the moment.
The spiritual importance of the position of the Cenotaph is something I have given a lot of thought to. Those of us who have strong family ties are going to have different feelings and I can only speak for myself.
My father was killed in Berlin in 1944 when I was two years old. I have been to visit his grave in a beautifully kept cemetery in the middle of Berlin so that is where his body is.
His tombstone reads 'Frank Mack of Weemabah' and I believe his spiritual home is along the riverbanks at 'Weemabah' not in the marble and cement of the Cenotaph.
The Cenotaph is a memorial where we can gather to think of all those who served their country. Not just those who gave their lives.
It is not a grave. It is not a spiritual home. However, I deeply respect any contrary views.
There were some views expressed that council had no right to take this kind of decision. As mentioned earlier, the council is the custodian of the monument so not only does it have a legal right to make these decisions, but I believe it has a moral obligation to make sure the monument is there for future generations to appreciate.
My position on council will be vacant at the next election. I challenge anyone who thinks these sorts of decisions are easy to make, to come and have a go.
Cr George W Mack