Carnarvon historical memorial unveiled

21/8/07
A $10,000 grant from the State Government's $1million ANZAC Day Small Grants Scheme has enabled restorations to Carnarvon's historical 1903 RML gun to be completed.
Unveiling the restored memorial today, Premier Alan Carpenter congratulated the local volunteers, led by Reg Harrison and Bill Smith, for their efforts in restoring the gun.
The Premier also thanked the Shire of Carnarvon and the Carnarvon Lions Club for their contribution to restoration costs.
Mr Carpenter said that the team of volunteers had spent countless hours cleaning, scraping and re-manufacturing a range of parts to restore the memorial.
"This was not an easy job for the volunteers as there are no known examples of the piece in Australia, and very few in the world," he said.
"However, the team has been able to use drawings to assist in the restoration process and they have done a fantastic job."
The Premier said the State Government's ANZAC Day Small Grants Scheme was established in 2003-04 to help RSL clubs throughout the State continue to hold commemorative services.
The scheme aims to:

• assist with the refurbishment and restoration of dilapidated war memorials and honour rolls across Western Australia. This includes the repair, protection and restoration works, as well as polishing and re-mortaring of commemorative plaques;

• upgrade facilities at RSL or memorial halls or other venues used for ANZAC and Remembrance Day services; and

• provide for the purchase of public address systems and lecterns for ANZAC and Remembrance Day services.

"The number of people attending local ANZAC and Remembrance Day services has increased significantly in recent years," Mr Carpenter said.
"It is vital that we continue to support this growing interest and the respect and affection people feel for this important part of our nation's heritage."
It is expected that the memorial will be stored under cover and brought out as a centrepiece for community events such as ANZAC Day and Armistice Day.
Further information, including guidelines and applications, are available on the ANZAC Day Working Group website at http://www.anzac.dpc.wa.gov.au
Premier's office - 9222 9475