Brian Dunn and Graham Chalker worked tirelessly to secure funding for the restoration of the Murrumburrah Public School and Newson Park Memorials
Two years of work has culminated in the completion of restoration works on both the War Memorial in Newson Park and the Honour Roll at Murrumburrah Public School (MPS), with stonemason Matthew Prosser having put the finishing touches on the latter.
The names of former students and teachers who served in the Great War now leap out in gold lettering, with each name having a unique story behind it.
One of those stories is that of the most decorated student on the board, Francis Clark. Clark was a plumber from Cunningar, but during the First World War, he rose to the rank of Sergeant. In October 1918, he took out a machine gun post that was inflicting heavy casualties, killing its two crew and taking ten prisoners. He also bombed another machine gun post and took command of his platoon. For these actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). He also won the Military Medal (M.M). Sadly, after re-enlisting in the Second World War, he was killed in action in Libya in June 1941, and is now buried at the Tobruk War Cemetery.
The work was facilitated by the joint efforts of the Harden Murrumburrah Returned Soldiers’ League (RSL) Sub-Branch and the ANZAC Centenary Local Grants Committee, with the restorations performed by stonemasons Matthew Prosser and Carl Valerius.
Brian Dunn, who was on the Committee, and Graham Chalker of the RSL Sub-Branch worked closely to secure funding for the restorations, most of which was provided by ANZAC Centenary Grants. Funds to complete the base of the War Memorial in Newson Park was provided by the Kruger Trust.
Brian and Graham would like to thank Matthew Prosser and Carl Valerius, the Harden Murrumburrah Historical Society, Angus Taylor, the late Alby Schultz, Harden Shire Council, Councillor Matthew Stadtmiller and Harden Shire Council Mayor John Horton for all their efforts in helping to make the restorations happen.
