As part of his whirlwind tour of Parkes on Wednesday, the Hon. David Elliott made announcements from his portfolio as the NSW Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. Councillors, Parkes Shire Library staff and school students attended Memorial Hill to hear the Minister announce a $2,000 grant from the State Government to develop content for an interactive learning experience for the site.
The history content would be accessed via Quick Response, or “QR” codes, which will be installed around the site. The QR codes are similar to barcodes, and can be scanned using a smart phone. The codes will then link to information on Council’s website, creating an interactive lesson available for visitors. Councillors Pat Smith, George Pratt and Deputy Mayor Barbra Newton welcomed the donation, along with student representatives from Parkes High School and the Holy Family School. David reminded the school children of the significance of war memorials.
“We live so far away from the battlefields, so memorials offered relatives a place to honour the boys who didn’t come home,” he said. David enjoyed a stroll through the Remembrance Walk Theatre of Conflicts Gardens. The symbolic gardens feature plants typical of each battlefront, and donated benches offer visitors a moment to reflect. Landscaper Elizabeth Briton, who led the dignitaries along the path, designed the Remembrance Walk.
The Minister for Veterans Affairs has a very personal connection to his portfolio. David had a long career in the army, and served with the peace-keeping forces in Bouganville, Papua New Guinea. The Minister for Veteran’s Affairs also visited the Trundle War Memorial Hall on Wednesday to announce a grant for the War Memorial Hall’s restoration. The building’s foundation stone was laid 90 years ago, and throughout those years it has seen mixed fortunes. Thanks to the efforts of the very dedicated Trundle War Memorial Hall Committee, the Trundle War Memorial Hall is slowly being restored.
By Raen Fraser