The ‘Boorowa Remembers’ project will have a strong focus on the iconic local war memorial. Committee members Carmel Barnes and Derrick Mason with the World War One honour roll.
The Boorowa Sub Branch of the RSL, at its monthly meeting on Friday, appointed a sub committee to conduct a feasibility study into the possibility of special activities to mark the centenary of Anzac in 2015.
The central idea of the project, which has the working title of ‘Boorowa Remembers 2015’, will be to encourage relatives of those who enlisted from Boorowa, in all wars and armed conflicts in which Australia has been involved, to attend commemoration ceremonies here in the centenary year.
Others for whom the centenary might have particular significance will also be encouraged to be involved.
The Gallipoli landings, where the Anzac legend was born, took place in April, 1915, and men from the Boorowa district were represented there, and also in campaigns in the Middle East and in France.
A World War One honour roll on the iconic Boorowa War Memorial contains the names of those who served and those who paid the supreme sacrifice.
The names of local men who lost their lives in subsequent conflicts were later added.
While the sub committee has been appointed by the RSL, it is hoped to also involve members of the community. The project is intended to be very ‘community based’.
A campaign of this type will require extensive publicity, and has the capacity to embrace many activities associated with the Anzac theme.
For instance, it is expected that it might stimulate the interest of many people in conducting further research into family history.
One option in the pipeline is to arrange for representatives from the Australian War Memorial to conduct workshops here to guide local people in researching service records of family members.
The ‘Boorowa Remembers’ sub committee will hold its first meeting at 2.30pm on Friday, August 3, under the chairmanship of RSL Sub Branch vice president Derrick Mason, and expressions of interest and ideas from the community will be welcome.
Enquiries can be directed to Derrick Mason (63853213) or Carmel Barnes (63858485).