Oatley Rededication

The rededication of the Oatley War Memorial on Sunday 1 November 2009 marked the end of a 9 year project to update the names of those service personnel who appear on the memorial’s Honour Roll.  

Mr Michael Tiddy, president of the Oatley Sub Branch of the RSL was the Master of ceremonies for the service attended by over 200 people.  Representatives of the Returned and Services League of Australia from the State Council and Sub-Banches as well as Local Members from Commonwealth and State Governments and the Mayors of Kogarah and Hustville Council joined representaives of families of the soldiers on the Honour Roll, local service clubs and Oatley Scouts and Guides on a fine hot day.

The following photos of the service were taken by FFFAIF member Chris Munro.  FFFAIF was represented by its President Russell Curley with Vice President Jim Munro, Secretary Chris Munro and Member Sean McManus also in attendance.

Photo: Catafalque Party E Coy 2/17 RNSWR

Photo: FFFAIF President Russell Curley laid a wreath
on behalf of FFFAIF Members

Photo: Members of the Oatley Guides and Scouts
represented the young residents of Oatley.

Photo: Floral tributes on the refurbished Oatley Memorial

More details on the history of the memorial and the faces behind the names on the memorial will feature in an upcoming posting in our Memorial Way series.

Reminder: Next Saturday  7 November 2009 special ceremony for the unveiling of a memorial plaque dedicated to the 45th Battalion. For details of the service click here.

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The Families and Friends of the First AIF applauds the joint Australian–UK decision, announced by The Hon Greg Combet AM MP and the Hon Kevan Jones MP, to conduct a full DNA testing program on the remains of Australian and British soldiers found in mass graves at Pheasant Wood (Fromelles), and for their continuing commitment to identify as many of the fallen as is possible. We also thank the Australian, UK and French governments for affording dignified individual reburials for these soldiers, buried by German soldiers following the Battle of Fromelles on 19/20 July 1916, in the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery presently under construction at Fromelles.