By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) appointed two SDRC representatives to a new body created by the Warwick RSL Sub-branch, created to complete the master plan for Leslie Park.
Warwick RSL Sub-branch Honorary Treasurer, Rod Kelly, wrote to SDRC Chief Executive Dave Burges about the committee.
He stated that when the Memorial Wall and Dais was constructed “Council generously managed the project”.
“That project was grant-funded together with community donations.”
Rod stated that the committee was seeking further assistance from SDRC to complete the project once grant funding has been attained.
He stated they are also seeking SDRC’s assistance to cost the project to assist with their grant applications.
The committee requested that Cr Jo McNally be appointed as the SDRC representative, due to her prior experience working on the Dungaree Memorial.
In the meeting, Cr Sheryl Windle stated it was great to “have a little bit more acknowledgement towards our staff in regards to their involvement with the memorial wall and dais”.
She asked whether they were able to make a decision on the letter at that point in time, and nominated Cr McNally for the committee.
“She’s always contributed a great deal and has great expertise and is passionate about the RSL so it would be advantageous for us to have her on that committee.”
Cr Stephen Tancred moved to amend the motion and nominated Mayor Vic Pennisi to the committee as well.
Mayor Pennisi asked Cr Windle if she was happy with that change and she said she didn’t have a problem with it.
Mayor Pennisi said he would be happy to attend when he is available.
“I wouldn’t mind attending every now and then, but it’s not life and death for me. I can tell you I have plenty to go to.”
Cr Tancred then seconded the motion.
Cr Andrew Gale requested clarification on what the second stage of the project is, saying he was under the impression the project was finished.
Mayor Pennisi said there was plenty still to be done.
Cr Windle stated there is a master plan for the entire precinct and believes they are pursuing this. She stated she wanted Council to be involved with managing the project, “as we did previously”.
Cr McNally stated there is a heritage listing at the park and this makes projects more complicated.
Warwick RSL Sub-branch President and Acting Secretary, John Skinner, said they are indeed seeking to complete the master plan.
He stated that one of the issues they would like to fix is the hedge around the cenotaph.
The hedge, made of privet plants, is worn out and needs to be replaced.
John also stated that privet is toxic to horses, and this is a risk when light horses are in the park.
John said that privet is an invasive plant that most councils are trying to eradicate.
The Warwick RSL Sub-branch would like to replace the hedge with Photinia, also known as red tip, and will pay for the new plants themselves.
John said the most important thing at this stage is cleaning the cenotaph itself. He said they might need to employ specialised services due to it being made of sandstone.
He said the cenotaph was established in 1923, and the prime minister at the time laid the foundation stone in June 1923 before the cenotaph was unveiled in December 1923.
The Warwick RSL Sub-branch intends to have a commemoration service around those dates, but most specifically for the unveiling.
