A WAR Veterans Remembrance Drive from Wingham to Wauchope will recognise Australia's first Victoria Cross recipient, former Taree doctor Neville Reginald Howse VC and the people who left this region to go to war.
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Greater Taree City Council mayor, Paul Hogan announced the project last week at a meeting of council and in his Mayoral Minute stated the drive was to celebrate the commencement of the Centenary of the First World War.
Cr Hogan described the War Veterans Remembrance Drive as a "meritorious project" and said it would be a community driven project "that seeks to recognise the people who left the region to go to war and the people who settled in the region following the war."
"It also recognises Australia's first Victoria Cross recipient and seeks to embed these historical events in a drive that is not only available to all Australians but also has a focus on the education of young children through a co-ordinated school based program," Cr Hogan explained.
Council has been working on the project with Port Macquarie Hastings Council and a project steering committee for more than four years.
"The Wingham to Wauchope drive is sensational in itself, culminating in the Ellenborough Falls. A centrepiece of the drive will be the Howse VC Memorial near the falls," Cr Hogan said.
"As well as this centrepiece, the memorial drive will feature halls and schools along the route that will provide designated rest areas where visitors can learn interesting facts relating to our regional and military history.
"The schools on the route are enthusiastic participants in the project and the drive will form a memorable Australian historical story that will be able to be accessed by school students in day trips from the Hunter, Central Coast and North Coast. It is also intended to produce an online presence that is available to the world.
"I commend the activities of the steering committee and in particular, the members of the community who have worked tirelessly for many years on the project.
"I encourage the community to support the project and in particular, businesses to add sponsorship to the project so that it can be developed to its maximum potential."