The memorials I saw this past year.
This past year's memorials have been quite varied, with gardens, a memorial arch and not one soldier standing with his rifle pointing down.
Port Elliot's Memorial Garden is quite nice as you look out onto Horseshoe Bay. The Norfolk Pines were planted for soldiers who were from the local district and who died during World War I, there are plaques at the base of the trees. During World War I, Port Elliot was a place of recreation for soldiers who were on leave and the gardens were established for them.
The Freeling War Memorial was originally dedicated to the 14 men from the district who died in World War I. The official dedication date was February 3rd, 1923, (one more year and it will be 100 years old) Later the names of those who died in World War II were added as well as from other conflicts up to the Vietnam War.
Birdwood Soldiers' Memorial
Birdwood has a memorial arch which is infront of the high school. The foundation stone for the arch was laid on the 16th of March 1920 and was paid for by local donations. The names of the 7 men from the district who died in World War I were placed on the arch in 1938 and then those from World War II, at a later date as well.
The Angaston memorial is very different to all the others I've seen. The figure isn't of a soldier, but of the Archangel Michael, holding up a wreath and pointing a sword down to the ground. The inspiration for this statue came from the Bible, specifically Revelations, the angel Michael defeating the forces of darkness. Originally it listed the men from the town who died in World War I and later the names of those who died in World War II were added. This memorial was dedicated on the 6th of June 1921.
Farrell Flat is a small farming community, a porch was added to the Institute in 1928. A memorial tablet with the names of the men from the town who were killed in World War I was inserted into the porch wall. After World War II, the name of the one man from the town who died in the war was added under the larger tablet.
Burra has a rather large memorial, complete with large field gun. The soldier on the column is holding his gun with the bayonet out ready to charge. The original fencing that now surrounds the roses was found in a local's shed and has been reinstated. The memorial was dedicated on March 29th 1922.
Mintaro has a rather modest war memorial, that also looks fairly new. I couldn't find the date of its dedication, it does commemorate those from the district who died from the Boer War to Vietnam.
The walled entrance is a newer part to the memorial gardens, the War Memorial is the simple plinth in the distance. It lists those from the district who died in World War I and II and was unveiled on ANZAC Day in 1951.
Possibly my favourite of all the memorials I've seen, simply as it's the most different. The memorial stands on a map of Australia, there are 10 columns on the memorial, commemorating the 10 men from the town who died in World War I. The memorial was dedicated on October 15th, 1922.
The Owen memorial is an urn on top of a plinth, it was originally made for those who died in World War I, serving 'King and Country'. Then at a later date, the names of those who died in World War II were added. The memorial was dedicated on the 11th of August 1920.
This memorial is quite new, it was unveiled in 2015 for the centenary of the landing at Gallipoli.
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