Thirroul’s beloved soldier and the sandstone monument on which he stands at Woodward Memorial Park will undergo a $15,000 restoration after today's Anzac Day dawn service.
The repairs, due to begin in May, have been financed through grants provided by the NSW Office of Veterans Affairs and Returned Services League (RSL) NSW.
Austinmer-Thirroul RSL Sub-Branch vice president Will Lee started the funding process more than three years ago and is now eager to see the restoration work get underway.
“This memorial needs tender love and care,” Will said.
“They’ve got to remove quite a bit of the grouting around the edges and then seal it all up, look at old soldier and give him a coat of paint.
“[They’ll also] have a look at the tablets, [which] believe it or not, are reasonably good for their age.
“They were saying probably every 10 to 15 years it might need some ongoing [maintenance].”
The 103-year-old monument is considered the oldest First World War memorial in the Illawarra.
With its foundation stone laid in October 1919, Thirroul War Memorial was officially unveiled on Anzac Day in 1920 to a crowd of 2000 by Margaret “Granny” Raich, who had spearheaded much of the community donations needed for its construction, breaking the long-held tradition of men performing such ceremonies.
Today, Thirroul War Memorial and the grounds of Woodward Memorial Park are largely cared for by Austinmer-Thirroul RSL Sub-Branch members who volunteer their time. They also tend to the surrounding gardens, including the five standard white rose plants that represent the Australian Navy, Army, Air Force, Merchant Mariners and Women’s Army Service and ensure the area is maintained ahead of Anzac Day and Remembrance Day commemorations.
“They look after the grounds and surrounds there every Monday morning – rain, hail or shine,” Will said.
“Wollongong City Council does any major stuff, but our gardeners just keep the grounds looking so good all the time.”
Restorations are expected to take about a week.
Austinmer-Thirroul RSL Sub-Branch will hold services at Austinmer Beach and Woodward Park, Thirroul at 6am today. Afterwards, join them at Club Thirroul for breakfast.
