Proud: Shepparton RSL sub-branch members Brian McInneny and Ted Ball show off the newly upgraded wall at the cenotaph.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Shepparton’s war memorial has had a makeover, with photos of conflicts Australians have been involved in now featured on the walls.
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The front and back of the two walls at the war memorial in Welsford St now feature large photos that have been put on the walls as vinyl laminate.
World War I and World War II, as well as wars in Malaya, Borneo, Korea, Vietnam, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and peacekeeping missions, are featured in the photos.
One of the Vietnam War even includes local veteran Stan Whitford in it.
Honoured: Goulburn Valley veteran Stan Whitford is among the men in this photograph of troops and a helicopter from the Vietnam War.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Shepparton RSL sub-branch president Bob Wilkie was the driving force behind the war memorial makeover.
He wanted to enhance the memorial area and use it as education for the younger generations.
“It’s been on my mind for five or six years for the enhancement,” Mr Wilkie said.
Upgrade: Both sides of the wall now feature photos of war.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The project itself has been in the pipeline for the past 12 months.
The photos are from the Australian War Memorial, with graphic designer George Petrau designing the piece.
The vinyl laminate has been laid over the top of what was previously just tiled walls.
Mr Wilkie said he was thrilled with how it had turned out.
“It’s absolutely above our expectations,” he said.
“The photos have come out really brilliantly.
Enhanced: The walls at Shepparton’s war memorial now feature photos from war.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
“It’s going to look fantastic at the dawn service.”
A $10,000 Federal Government grant was put towards the project, with the Shepparton RSL sub-branch raising $20,000 to complete the wall.
The front of the wall is already lit up at night, and Mr Wilkie hopes that in the future, the back will also be able to be floodlit.
Mr Wilkie believes that as well as being an important addition to the war memorial, it will also be a tourist attraction for Shepparton.
“I think a lot of people will go and have a look at it,” he said.
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