North Dorrigo Public School Great War Honour Roll

About

The memorial is a bronze honour roll for those from North Dorrigo Public School who served in the First World War. It is decorated with several patterns and scrolls, which divide the roll into three sections. At the top of the centre section is an oval plaque, inscribed with the name of the school. Below this is the dedication to service for the Empire, in raised letters. At the bottom of the centre section is a circular plaque inscribed with the NSW state badge. The 25 names are inscribed over two rectangular plaques, attached to the left and right sides of the board.  Planning for the roll was already underway by the annual meeting of the Parents and Citizens' Association held in April 1921. The Don Dorrigo Gazette and Guy Fawkes Advocate, 30 April 1921, reported: The school honor roll, which will contain the names of all ex-pupils who served in the Great War, and which the Association has had in view for some considerable time is expected to be in the school by Empire Day, when it will be duly unveiled.  However, it was not until October 1921 that the roll went on display at a local store (Don Dorrigo Gazette, 15 October 1921). In the Gazette on 19 October, it was reported: Permission has been given by the Department to the Principal to alter the usual routine to permit of the ceremony being performed in school hours. An invitation to all interested to be present is extended. The roll was officially unveiled at the school on 21 October 1921, by Mr Nelson. The event was reported in detail in the Gazette on 29 October and 5 November.  The roll was designed by the Wunderlich Company of Sydney, NSW, a large Australian company specialising in the construction of tiles and pressed metal ceilings. Following the First World War, Wunderlich created bronze honour rolls, which were designed and decorated according to the styles of the time. Initially the honour rolls featured military symbols and then later Australian flora. The roll has since been moved to the Don Dorrigo and Guy Fawkes Historical Society Museum. Access to the memorial is restricted to the opening hours of the museum.

Photos