More than five years of hard work culminated on Sunday with the rededication of Dimboola’s Avenue of Honour and the unveiling of a new information sign about the Dimboola War Memorial.

The Avenue was first planted in 1924 as a memorial to the Dimboola district servicemen who served and died in the First World War and had later been extended to include local casualties from the Second World War and Korean War.

In a project led by local historian Charles Rees, the Dimboola Avenue of Honour which forms part of Anzac Drive, the roadway that circles the front oval at the Dimboola Memorial Secondary College, was replanted after dieback had been identified in the existing trees requiring them to be removed.

The ongoing project also involved the planting and dedication of four new trees in 2017 in the Avenue acknowledging four servicemen who had been mistakenly recorded as having returned from the First World War but had in fact been killed in action, and the renaming of another tree to recognise a fifth serviceman whose fate had been incorrectly recorded.

New names were also inscribed on the memorial tablets on the front of the Soldier’s Memorial Hall at the College.

To tie all this together a new commemorative site with a seat and information sign outlining the history of the Dimboola War Memorial was unveiled at the entrance to the College grounds.

The ceremony on Sunday afternoon was led by master of ceremonies Walter Sholl and included a Welcome to Country by Aunty Nancy Harrison, addresses by Ivan Jones, President of the Dimboola RSL Sub-branch, DMSC Principal Anne Gawith, and former DMSC School Captain Andrew King.

Project co-ordinator Charles Rees read the poem Trees by Joyce Kilmer.

The new sign was unveiled by Bob Martindale, grandson of Robert Martindale who was regarded as the founder of the School, current student Evan Barber, DMSC Hall of Fame member Tracy Rigney, Bob Gooding whose two uncles, Harold and Walter Gooding, are commemorated in the Avenue.

The rededication of the Avenue of Honour was conducted by Dr Rob Webster OAM, State President of the RSL.

Wreaths were laid by DMSC School Captains Rebekah Albrecht and Mitchell Jorgensen, Vice President of the Dimboola RSL Sub-branch Brian Bosworth, and Hindmarsh Shire Councillor Debra Nelson.

Music for the service was provided by the Nhill-Dimboola Brass Band, and the Sing Australia Choir added to the singing of several hymns.

The afternoon concluded with an afternoon tea served in the College Assembly Hall providing the opportunity for the guests and visitors to mingle.


Project co-ordinator, Charles Rees, beside the new information sign.