Walk to honour our Anzacs

Ranges Ward councillor Leticia Wilmot, Geoff Spring, Peter Maloney, Ranges Ward councillor Brett Owen and Cardinia Shire mayor Graeme Moore can't wait for the Anzac Walk to open. 126415 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By RUSSELL BENNETT

EMERALD’S exciting Anzac Walk project has taken another step forward this week with the release of drawings and a mock-up of how each of the information pillars along the trail will look.
More than 30 fallen soldiers from WWI with links to the Emerald area will be officially heralded under the new Anzac Walk and Anzac Place projects to be completed well ahead of next year’s Anzac centenary.
And tomorrow (Wednesday 3 September) from 5pm to 7.30pm at the Emerald RSL on Memorial Avenue, local residents will be able to come along to an open house and have their questions on the projects answered by RSL and shire representatives.
“It’s about communication,” Emerald RSL president Peter Maloney said.
“We need to have the people of Emerald knowing what’s going on, so that’s what we’re trying to achieve.
“We want people to come in and see what’s happening in their township.”
Mr Maloney said it had been well over 12 months since the concept originated, which will see the RSL honour 32 fallen soldiers.
“We’ve been searching the world to get photos of them and we want to celebrate their lives,” he said.
The aim is to celebrate Anzac Day at Anzac Place – next to the RSL – next year.
“All the parts have come together now and we’re waiting for the final drawings next week, which the council will sign off on, and we expect to be turning soil on 1 October,” he said.
“It won’t take long once the boys get moving on it, and I am to have it finished by Christmas.
“We’d hope to have an official opening with all the politicians and the people from the various departments who have helped us here in February.
“This project is something that Emerald’s never seen before.”
In essence, it’s bringing the history back to a new generation of residents.
The RSL’s plan is to have eight information stands which would have four pictures of soldiers with a short notation on their individual histories.
The Anzac Walk, which will be interactive, will eventually link up to Emerald’s Heritage Walk – a tourist trail through Emerald.
The Mail understands that the Anzac football clash between Emerald and Gembrook-Cockatoo could be revived next season with both clubs back in the same division of the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League.
An Anzac play depicting life in Emerald in 1914 could also open at Emerald’s Gemco Theatre in time for next year’s Anzac centenary and, finally, the Emerald RSL has also commissioned a Statue of the Unknown Soldier.