Eatonsville District First World War Honor Roll

About

The Eatonsville District First World War Honor Roll is an elegant timber board, listing the names of 26 ex-pupils from the school who served in the war. The board is decorated with paintings of the crossed Union Jack and Australian Red Ensign and a laurel wreath. The architectural detail of the board demonstrate that a skilled carpenter created the memorial. It has distinctive supporting timber columns on each side and at the top. The pediment is also edged with carved timber molding that has been expertly executed. The roll was unveiled at the school around July 1918. Some 200 people attended the ceremony, with visitors coming from Grafton and Ramornie. The school's teacher addressed the audience and explained how funds for the memorial were raised by the school children. Mrs Allen and Mrs Morgan, who each had two soldier sons, performed the unveiling. The event also included speeches by special guests, songs sung by the children and the community, and an afternoon tea at the end of the day (The Daily Examiner, 4 July 1918). The Eatonsville Public School opened in August 1881 and closed in December 1961. The roll was moved to the Eatonsville Hall, where it is available for viewing when the hall is open for public occasions.