1 Heritage Plaza with interpretation plaques | 2 View of Moree ANZAC Centenary Memorial Park | 3 ANZAC Memorial | 4 View of opening ceremony as memorial plaques are unveiled | 5 Metal perforated mural on the utility building’s facades depicts the various Armed Forces in WWI | 6 Elizabeth Cranfield – Associate at CM+ meets 90+ years old Molly Heffernan, former local tennis champion featured on this plaque, on the site of the former Moree Railway Institute Tennis Courts
Under a bright blue sky and 36deg temperature, the Moree ANZAC Memorial was officially opened on Saturday 12 March by His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d,) Governor of NSW. The memorial proposed by Councillor John Tramby from Moree Plains Shire Council who is also a life member of the Returned Services League, commemorates the centenary of ANZAC Day in 2015 and remembers the sacrifice of those from the Moree district who died in WWI. Designed by CM+, the memorial is located in the recently completed ANZAC Centenary Park adjacent to the Moree Bypass (both CM+ projects). This park, a new public open space for Moree also celebrates the many heritage items located within and adjacent to the park through interpretation plaques at key locations.
The ANZAC Memorial is comprised of three interrelated elements: a symbolic row of Kurrajong trees along Gosport Street within the park, plaques opn concrete plinths with details of those who died and a perforated, metal, interpretive mural on a small utility building. The Kurrajong trees symbolise the men of the 1916 recruitment drive known as the ‘Kurrajong March’ and are representative of their hardiness and will to survive.
Approximately 200 descendants of the servicemen and women along with dignitaries attended the dedication including the NSW State Governor and Mrs Hurley, The Moree Plains Shire Council Deputy Mayor Sue Price, Local Aboriginal Elder Zona Moore, Local Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall as well as representatives from the Local and State RSL branches and the NSW Roads and Maritime Services (who funded the project).
Various wreaths were laid and the plaques were unveiled by descendants of the servicemen and women. Music was provided by the Moree and District Brass Band who played 100 years ago when the Kurrajongs boarded the train at Moree Railway Station (opposite the park) to travel to army training camp.