PWD honours board mounted in West Perth

24/4/94

An honours board commemorating a group of Western Australian public servants who served in World War One has found a new home in West Perth after 28 years in storage.

The honours board lists the names of 63 employees of the Public Works Department who served Australia in the Great War and the names of 11 who died in action.

The board has been mounted for public display in the lift foyer at Dumas House in West Perth following its rediscovery in a storage vault by Building Management Authority staff.

Dumas is the headquarters of the BMA and also houses the office of Works Minister Graham Kierath.

"It is pleasing to see the board available again for public viewing," Mr Kierath said.

"While the board refers to PWD employees who served in World War One, it serves as a tribute to all PWD staff who took part in all the wars involving Australia.

"It hung previously in the old barracks at the top of St George's Terrace until those premises were demolished in 1966.

"It was only rediscovered a month ago in the BMA's Welshpool depot."

Mr Kierath said of the 63 people who survived the war, many had gone on to contribute much to WA society.

Mr H W Byfield served as Under Treasurer from 1955 to 1958 and Mr Sydney Arnold Taylor was Public Service Commissioner from 1945 to 1955.  Mr W C Williams was Under Secretary for Public Works from 1946 to 1953 and Mr Alfred Ernest Clare was the PWD's principal architect from 1930 to 1960.

Media contact:  Dean Roberts 222 9595