Pottsville Beach Cenotaph

About

The Pottsville Beach Cenotaph is located at Anzac Park in Pottsville Beach, adjacent to the Community Hall on the Tweed Coast Road. It is a sepulchral monument in honour of those whose remains are elsewhere. The design of the cenotaph is appropriately solemn and dignified and the structure evokes a sense of service and loss.  Built of Australian Grandee Grey granite, sitting on a Caspar White granite dais, the cenotaph stands approximately two metres tall, on a base approximately 10 metres square. There is a large back plate with the three Australian Defence Force Service crests, a rising central spire and cross, and side wings symbolically open to embrace those from the Navy, Army and Air Force who have served and died in war and conflict for Australia. The memorial was erected on behalf of the RSL Pottsville and District sub-Branch by Mr Nick Gazzard, monumental mason from East Coast Memorials in Mullumbimby, NSW. The cenotaph was rededicated on 19 March 2016 and unveiled by Mr Rod White RFD NSW State President of the RSL. The new cenotaph replaced a smaller granite cenotaph built on the same site in 1988. It acts as a tangible reminder of those who built Pottsville and of those locals who have served in the defence forces.  To the south of the cenotaph are the Pottsville RSL Memorial Gates. The gates consist of a metal archway, supported by two pillars. Attached to the pillars are various plaques dedicated to service men and women. Between the pillars is a set of timber gates. Two flagpoles are also nearby.  History Anzac Park and the immediately adjacent Pottsville RSL Memorial Park, often referred to as 'Pottsville Oval', make up a larger memorial site that has been in continuous use since 1946.  1946 - Local members of the Returned Sailors, Soldiers & Airmen Imperial League of Australia built the Pottsville RSL Memorial Park oval. Using only manpower and one light draught horse, they donated their time, a great deal of sweat and effort, and some money to carve the park out of the scrub on Crown land. They did this for the children from five local schools around the Pottsville area.  1947 - Gates bearing the name 'Pottsville RSL Memorial Park' were erected on the northern side of the oval. 1988 - The first cenotaph at Anzac Park was built. 1997 - The memorial park's gates were replaced after being damaged. 2001- Tweed Shire Council, local RSL members and volunteers refurbished Anzac Park and the memorial pathway.  2010 - A granite nominal roll bearing the names of locals who served was erected near the cenotaph.  2016 - The cenotaph was renovated, enlarged and re-dedicated on 19 March 2016. Improvements to the memorials and maintenance at the site have been funded by the Tweed Shire, government grants, and donations from the sub-Branch, local individuals and businesses. As at 2018, people still regularly use the oval for organised sport and casual recreation. The memorial site is the focus for individual commemoration as well as community events such as Anzac Day, Vietnam Veterans Day and Remembrance Day.