Empire Vale-Keith Hall Second World War Roll of Honour

Note: This honour roll was temporarily relocated in 2022 due to flooding in the region. It is in storage awaiting conservation at Southern Cross Public School in East Ballina and is not available for viewing. 

The memorial is a large, polished timber roll of honour, with a classical pediment at the top and decorative carving on the sides. The centre panel contains the list of names, which are painted in gold across three columns. Those who paid the supreme sacrifice and the women who served are printed in the middle column. The base of the board is made of three timber slats, stacked horizontally on top of each other, in the style of a stepped platform. 

Planning for the memorial was underway by 1947, when President of the Empire Vale-Keith Hall Memorial Fund, Mr. R.A. Lowrey, called a special meeting for Saturday, 7 June at the Empire Vale Hall to discuss the roll (Northern Star, 31 May 1947). Lowrey called a further meeting of subscribers to the fund to be held in the hall on Saturday, 18 October to make arrangements for the unveiling ceremony (Northern Star, 13 October 1947).

The memorial was unveiled on Wednesday, 12 November 1947 at the Empire Vale Hall. The Northern Star, 13 November, described the event in detail. Mr Lowrey was chairman, Mrs K. Woolnough unveiled the roll and Canon V. Burvill performed the dedication. 

The roll was kept in the hall following the dedication but has since been moved to the Empire Vale Public School. It is located alongside the Empire Vale First World War Roll of Honour. Access to the memorial is restricted as it is within the school grounds.