In September 1945, the Federal Government offered funding to municipalities to establish War Memorials in various localities. A local committee of residents (called Plenty War Memorial Community Centre) was formed following a public meeting with the objective of planning an appropriate memorial. In attendance at this public meeting were: Cr W Elwers, Mrs L Elwers, Mr L Elwers (President), Mrs Walker, Mr J Walker (Treasurer), Mr R Beale (Secretary), Mr J Wilson, Mrs Brereton, Mr A Brereton (Auditor), Mr B Lierse (Vice President), Mr F Durham, Mr L Wilson, and Mr H White. This committee was active in fundraising and also provided a delegate, along with other towns in the municipality, to the City of Heidelberg War Memorial Trust, which had overall responsibility for all memorials.The Memorial Gates were erected in the Plenty War Memorial Park in 1951 in memory of Plenty servicemen and women who served during the Great War 1914 – 1918, and during World War II 1939 – 1945. Col. Latchford and the Reverend C. P. Young officially opened the Memorial Gates on 21st April 1951 (see photograph below). Over the years following the opening of the Memorial Gates, the children attending the Plenty State School until its closure in 1993 held Memorial Services around Anzac Day.Over the years, the volume of traffic entering the Park has increased significantly and the Memorial Gates have been damaged on occasions. Plenty Historical Society Inc. has undertaken a program to restore the Memorial Gates to their former state and install new plaques commemorating the service of local persons in Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam and other more recent areas of service by defence personnel. The Society has obtained Grants from The Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department for Victorian Communities and Nillumbik Shire Council to carry out various aspects of the restoration.Written by Alan Pearce Plenty Historical Society
Feb. 2008 Update: Rededication of the Gates is planned for November 2009.
The committee are looking to contact descendants or relatives of the following names as recorded in the minutes of the Plenty War Memorial Community Centre Committee between 1945 and 1954, as well as the list of those persons from Plenty who served during World War 2. World War 11 service men and women from Plenty :NAVY:R. Deacon, F. Durham, R. McGregor, A Twilley, W. WeirAIR FORCE:L. Baxter, N. Baxter, K. Doherty, W. Dwyer, Dorothy Faneco, Isobel Faneco, J. Faneco, W. Faneco, B. Hall, Marjorie Harris, R. Harris, E. Hughes, R. Hughes, W. King, K. O’Doherty, L. Perry, Joyce Weir, W. Whittingham, D. WinsorARMY:G. Anderson, G. Arman, E. Churchward, G. Churchward, M. Churchward, W. Connelly, H. Dove, C. Dunkley, P. Dwyer, L. Everett, E. Ewert, N. Ewert, E. Fielding, J. Harris,A. Hawkins. N. Hopkins, J. Hussey, J. Jenkins, C. Keith, G. Keith, J. Keith, M. Keith, W. McCallum, F. McDonald, D. McLennan, J. McLennan, I. McQueen, W. Pringle, G. Rudd, J. Stokes, J. Threader, J. Treloar, W. Upton, Marjorie West, H. Weiland Names included in the Plenty War Memorial Community Centre Minutes.K Bagley R Beale A Brereton Mrs Brereton F W Durham* L Elwers Mrs L Elwers Cr W Elwers* S Fellows Mrs S Fellows Mr Gawne Mr Healy J Laidley B Lierse R Thomas J Upton Mrs J Upton C Walker* Mrs Walker* H White K White J Wilson L Wilson Merle Walker – Entrant in Popular Girl Competition. All persons who attended the first Public Meeting held on 24th September 1945 were elected to the Committee.
• Persons who maintained continuous membership of Committee from 1945 until 1953.
Photo: War Memorial at St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Panton Hill, 2016.
War Memorials on Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea series
Photographer: Kev Howlett
