Memorial park plan

By Melissa Meehan
PAKENHAM’S cenotaph is set to receive a make-over, something the local RSL says has been needed for some time.
Pakenham RSL president Ray Caldwell said the cenotaph would be relocated during construction of the new library and town hall, but would return fully refurbished and bigger and better.
“The current cenotaph includes all the names of those who served in World War I, but no one else,” Mr Caldwell said.
“It doesn’t acknowledge anyone since.”
Mr Caldwell said as part of the new development, the Cardinia Shire Council has promised the RSL a curved granite wall that will sit on the corner of John Street.
He said the plan was to include all servicemen from Pakenham on the wall, which would include tours to Afghanistan, Vietnam and Iraq just to name a few.
The proposed wall will resemble something similar to the Kooweerup memorial, which Mr Caldwell said really brought everything together.
“When the sun shines, it will catch the edge of the granite,” he said.
“It will look really fantastic.”
Council spokesman Paul Dunlop said the council was mindful that the site contained the town’s memorial to its soldiers and would ensure that their memory would continue to be appropriately honoured.
“As part of the works, the existing cenotaph will be refurbished and relocated to approximately its same location,” he said.
Construction of a new memorial wall is also being considered. This memorial wall would include names from all the wars not listed on the existing cenotaph.
But the revamped cenotaph and remembrance wall is not all the RSL has its eyes set on in the near future.
Mr Caldwell said a planned walkway between the new hall and car park had the potential to turn the site into a commemorative park.
“The Vietnam Veterans Association has approached the council to see if it would agree to turning it into a commemorative walkway,” he said.
“With trees and plaques dedicated to the Vietnam veterans.”
He said the “overall picture” was to bring more people to Pakenham for the memorial site.
“There are tour groups who go all over the place visiting sites like the one we would like to have,” he said.
But, none of the plans can be completed without the help of the public.
Over the next six months, the RSL will call on residents to help put together a list of all servicemen and women from the area.
“We will need all the help we can get,” former Pakenham RSL president Norm Joseph said.
The significant overhaul is not the only exciting plans on the agenda according to Mr Caldwell.
“There are many spanners in the works,” he said. “Watch this space.”