Kootingal War Memorial and Memory Park

About

Memory Park in Kootingal, NSW, is a commemorative park, which was established in the early 1920s. It features the Kootingal War Memorial, originally dedicated in 1921 in honour of those from Kootingal and distrct who served in the First World War.  The memorial is a taperd pillar of stone and marble, mounted on a Ravensfield stone base, which consists of three plinths. Each side of the pillar represents one of four districts: Kootingal, Moonbri, Mulla, and Tintinhull. Each side bears two marble plaques, inscribed with the names of soldiers who went to the war from that locality. The pillar is surrounded by a black and white tile floor and a kerb of Ravensfield stone. The names of the four districts are carved into the tiling, facing as near as possible to their side of the pillar.  The plinths have several plaques attached, including a foundation stone, dedication and unveiling plaques, and bronze honour rolls for the Second World War and Vietnam, which have been added at a later date. A low metal fence surrounds the whole memorial, positioned outside the tile/kerb area. Plans for the memorial were approved by the Kootingal soldiers' monument committee in August 1920 (Daily Observer, 26 August 1920). It was designed by Mr Bishop and erected by Mr Callcott of Tamworth. The foundation stone was laid on 19 November 1920, at a well-attended ceremony including residents from the four districts (Daily Observer, 22 November 1920). The monument was completed by March 1921 and invitations were issued to the surrounding Shire Councils that month. On Saturday, 19 March 1921, a patriotic function was held in the Kootingal village, organised by the committee, to dedicate the park. The ceremony was described in detail in the Northern Daily Leader, 22 March 1921. It was reported: The proceedings commenced with the dedication and opening to the public of the enclosed grounds in the centre of which the monument has been erected. Mr W. Baldwin, chairman of the committee, called upon Councillor Peek to name the park 'Memory Park' and for the public to "always look upon it as sacred to the memory of all those who took part in the war." The memorial itself was unveiled by Captain F.W. Chaffey.  Various commemorative services are held in the park.

Photos