MidCoast Council is seeking community assistance to find the missing words on a plaque on Coopernook's War Memorial, as part of restoration work that begins this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"We're very excited to have received funding to restore the war memorial, and have appointed stone masons to undertake the specialist work required to bring the memorial back to its former glory," said council's manager of Community Spaces. Recreation and Trades, Dan Aldridge.
It is a sandstone obelisk faced with several marble plaques honouring those who served in the Boer War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Malaya-Borneo, Vietnam and all other conflicts.
Originally dedicated on November 11, 1922, the 100 year old structure will have repairs to its lead lettering to improve the eligibility of the plaques. Cleaning and waxing the bronze plaque and cleaning the stone will conserve and protect the Memorial.
Repointing around the marble plaques will decrease the infiltration of water under the plaques improving the integrity of the Memorial.
"There is a mystery surrounding a missing small plaque on the Memorial and we're hoping someone in the community will be able to provide information to help us fully restore the memorial," said Dan Aldridge.
"A small original plaque on the main face of the memorial is in need of repair, but we have been unable to find out what it said. Some of our heritage volunteers are undertaking research, but so far have had no luck.
"Does anyone in Coopernook have any recollections, or hold some information that may assist us? If so, please contact us and let us know."
You can call Sue Calvin on 7955 7750 or email sue.calvin@midcoast.nsw.gov.au with any information you may have.
The works are funded by the NSW government, and follow restoration works undertaken on war memorials over the last few years in Nabiac, Taree and Wingham.