By ANEEKA SIMONIS
THE strong, historical town of Kooweerup is preparing for a new dimension with the introduction of a District Military Museum.
Due to be located at the current bowls club on Rossiter Road, the military museum will be the lasting legacy of the Kooweerup RSL group who want the brave efforts of local war heroes to be remembered forever.
“It is extraordinary that so many were cut down in their prime with little rationale for it,” RSL member Ray Brown said.
“The museum is aimed at younger generations. We remember but generations to come may not. If we don’t capture it now, who will? The project is urgent … we must never forget.”
The idea, which RSL members have been hard at work at for the past four years, will bring together undiscovered, unique items contributed by the community.
“It’s just amazing to find out how much people have at their home from the war. Some people have garages full,” said Kooweerup RSL president Ron Ingram who is excited to create a lasting site for the district’s fallen servicemen.
But this isn’t the only exciting historical stamp the RSL is making on Kooweerup.
Ahead of the Anzac centenary commemoration next April, the RSL club has been awarded an $11,750 federal grant as well as council funding for an Avenue of Honour.
Federal Member for Flinders Greg Hunt MP officially presented the club with the funds from the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program on Thursday 16 October to commemorate the 44 lives lost from the District in World War I.
Each fallen servicemen will be remembered by a plaque sitting under an oak tree which will line the 500 metre remembrance path along the old railway line.
The Avenue of Honour will lead to the town’s cenotaph memorial site, with a full Honour Wall placed at a half-way point to allow people to understand more about local WWI victims.
Mr Hunt said the centenary “will be the most significant national period of commemoration in our nation’s history” and preserving “the memory of those who so valiantly fought for our country,” is important.
“The Sub-Branch can now move forward to finalise this project – a fitting tribute to the men of the district who laid down their lives so that we all can live the life we have today,” Kooweerup RSL Secretary Ivan Royle said.
The Kooweerup bowls club will be relocated in the township to make way for the District Military Museum which is planned to open in the next two to three years, Mr Ingram said.
