MEMBERS STATEMENTS: WERRIBEE AVENUE OF HONOUR

Mr PALLAS (Werribee) (09:40:29): I rise today to honour the Anzacs of the Werribee community. Their spirit of sacrifice and solidarity through wartime set an example for future generations to look out for one another and to provide support for those in need. The original Werribee Avenue of Honour was planted along the Princes Highway and officially opened on 7 August 1918 to commemorate the First World War. However, many of the commemorative trees have perished through time and are no longer in their full glory. This coming Friday I will unveil the new Werribee Avenue of Honour at the same site as the tree plantings. The new memorial will include the names of 60 fallen soldiers engraved on bluestone blocks forming the shape of a poppy and will surround a representation of the Sword of Sacrifice. The memorial will ensure our future generations can visit the site and pay their respects to those local servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. I am proud that the Andrews Labor government provided $184 000 for these works, and I thank the Werribee RSL for their efforts in the creation of this new memorial at the site of the original Avenue of Honour in Werribee. I would like to especially mention David McDiarmid’s efforts to achieve this wonderful memorial.