RESIDENTS from three district towns who served during World War Two have been recognised in a new memorial at Cohuna.
More than 400 people were in attendance during Wednesday’s ANZAC Day commemorations as Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell officially dedicated the Cohuna/Leitchville Returned and Services League sub-branch’s World War Two monument.
Located in the Cohuna Memorial Park adjacent to the town’s memorial hall, the structure features around 700 names of the district’s servicemen and women, collated from honour boards at Cohuna, Leitchville and Gunbower
“Much research was required as some names appeared on multiple boards and some names were missing altogether,” sub-branch president, Geoff Dale said.
The memorial is the third of its kind to be placed within the park since commemorations marking the centenary of Australia’s involvement in World War One began in 2015.
The structure is similar to a memorial recognising the area’s residents who served in World War One, with the dedication following on from last year’s unveiling of a marble sculpture identifying those who served during the Vietnam War.
“We should never forget the sacrifice of servicemen and women in all conflicts,” Ms Lovell said.
“In order for us to enjoy the freedom and prosperity we have in Australia today, many of them paid the ultimate sacrifice, and the lives of those who returned home were changed forever.
“Behind every single one of those names [on the memorial unveiled on ANZAC Day] there is a story of great courage and great loss.”
Attention will turn to the creation of smaller memorials recognising district residents who served in the Boer and Korean wars, as well as those deployed to the Malayan emergency, peacekeeping roles in Iraq and Afghanistan and those who assisted with United Nations efforts overseas.
