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Wisemans Ferry and District War Memorial

Wisemans Ferry and District War Memorial
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Wisemans Ferry and District War Memorial, front face
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Wisemans Ferry and District War Memorial, side view
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The west face of the memorial. A statue of a soldier sits in the panel's face.
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Wisemans Ferry and District War Memorial, dedication plaque on west face
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Wisemans Ferry and District War Memorial, north panel
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Wisemans Ferry and District War Memorial, east panel
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Wisemans Ferry and District War Memorial, south panel
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Description / Background

The sandstone memorial comprises an obelisk, standing on top of a centre column and plinth. The column is in the 'Sentry Box' style and was designed to accommodate the 1-metre-tall bronze sculpture of a First World War Australian Digger. The sculpture, commissioned at a cost of $21,000, is the work of Hungarian-born Alex Kolozsy. Black granite from the Grandee Granite Quarry in the Mulyandry district was used to form the Sentry Box archway, which has the inscription 'Valour/Honour' engraved on either side of the entrance. The plinth, or base, of the Sentry Box bears the unveiling plaque. The plinth received a 'Convict picked and margined' makeover from local stonemason Paul McKinley to complement the district's colonial convict heritage.

The obelisk, which was the final stage of construction of the memorial, was to undergo three design changes before completion. To obtain a single, 2.4-metre-long log of light grey stone, without grain or flaw, proved to be very difficult. This resulted in a compromise, including a change in height/concept to accommodate the join. The obelisk inscription 'Sacred to their Memory' was the work of Central Coast stonemason Jon Bye. The sides of the obelisk house four large bronze plaques, representing the three service branches and the Merchant Navy.

Following approval from Hornsby Council, the memorial committee was formed in 5 October 2010 to construct a fitting memorial in honour of the men and women who departed the district for service in times of war. The memorial was designed by Wayne Moore & Neil Marsh and completed one week before Anzac Day 2015. It is located in a community reserve, adjacent to the Wisemans Ferry Bowling Club.

Inscription

Obelisk - front

Sacred to their Memory

North panel

Wisemans Ferry & District

World War 1 Nominal Roll

& Roll of Honour 

[27 names]

Post W.W.2 Nominal Roll

I.S.A.F. Afghan.

[Two names]

South panel

Wisemans Ferry & District

World War 2 Nominal Roll

[55 names]

East panel

This memorial was erected

by the community of Wisemans Ferry

in memory of the men & women

who departed this district

and in honour of those

who served and sacrificed

their lives during the

South Africa (Boer War) 1899–1902

The Great War of 1914–1918

World War II 1939–1945

Malaya/Borneo 1948–1960

Korea 1950–1953

Vietnam 1962–1972

U.N. Peacekeepers

"Ode"

They shall grow not old

As we that are left grow old

Age shall not weary them

Nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning

We will remember them

Lest we forget

West face

[inscribed to the left and right of statue]

Valour

Honour

West face, plaque

This memorial was unveiled on 25th April 2015

by Mrs. Dyras Thompson

to commemorate the "Centenary of Anzac"

Veterans listed on this memorial

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Sidebar
Address
Public Reserve
Old Northern Road
Wisemans Ferry NSW 2775
Local Government Area
Hornsby Shire
Setting
Roadside
Memorial type
Obelisk
Recorded by
Wayne Moore
Year of construction
2015
Dedication date
25 April 2015
Conflict/s
South African War (Boer War), 1899–1902
First World War, 1914–18
Second World War, 1939–45
Korean War, 1950–53
Malayan Emergency, 1950–60
Indonesian Confrontation, 1963–66
Vietnam War, 1962–75
Peacekeeping, 1947–present
Materials
Bronze
Granite
Sandstone