Alison Byrnes (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 3 June, the City of Wollongong RSL Sub-Branch hosted a rededication commemorative service for the centenary of the Wollongong Cenotaph at MacCabe Park war memorial. The Wollongong Cenotaph lists the names of 360 local veterans lost in the war. I was pleased to join the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Hon. Margaret Beazley; the member for Wollongong, Paul Scully MP; Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery; and Deputy Lord Mayor Tania Brown to lay wreaths and unveil the rededication plaque. Bravo Company, 4th/3rd Battalion, of the Royal New South Wales Regiment provided a catafalque party, while the HARS Aviation Museum conducted a historical aircraft flyover during the Call of the Fallen section of the service. Beautiful hymns and anthems were also performed by the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music's Chamber Choir.

The rededication was a truly historical event in our city, and I want to thank the City of Wollongong RSL Sub-Branch for their dedication to veterans in our area. Thank you to the executive committee—John Sperring, Derek Howard, Darren Wheeler and Peter Lipscomb—and general committee members Joshua Neden, Damian Ryan, Terry Presland, Kelly Gallagher, Kurt Gallagher, Sam Barlow and Nathan Szabo. A special recognition must be given to the honorary secretary, Peter Lipscomb, who worked tirelessly organising the restoration in preparation for the ceremony. Thank you to the local stonemason, Brad Rimmer, who conducted the restoration with the utmost care and respect for this special place of history.