McCormack officially opens refurbished WWI honour board at Lockhart

The Nationals’ Member for Riverina Michael McCormack officially opened a refurbished World War I honour board at the Lockhart Memorial Hall on Monday, September 18.

More than 30 people from around Lockhart Shire attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, including descendants of the soldiers on the board.

The refurbishment was carried out through a grant from the Federal Government under the Saluting their Service Commemorative Grants Program.

Mr McCormack said it was essential we continued to preserve our war history so future generations could appreciate the freedoms they have today.

“Lockhart is a town which gave so much not just for World War I, not just for World War II, but indeed all conflicts that Australia has been involved in,” Mr McCormack said.

“It’s important that we remember (the sacrifices of our soldiers); it’s more important that we keep them preserved so the future generations can know.”

The Lockhart Mayor, Councillor Rodger Schirmer, thanked husband and wife team - Councillor Max and Fran Day, both OAMs - for instigating bringing the honour board back to glory.

“Like a lot of things in small country towns and even in bigger country towns and cities in fact a lot of our history is left and not maintained to the degree that it should be,” Councillor Schirmer said.

“Through Max and Fran’s initiative that certainly isn’t the case today.”

Mr Day’s uncles are on the honour board, and he said a lot of people were involved in getting the project finished.

“These things don’t happen with a couple of people, there’s a whole list that helps out,” Cr Day said.

You can watch the official opening here: https://www.pscp.tv/w/1PlJQYmAjNMJE.