Lest we forget, we all solemnly declare on national commemoration days, with new funding for war memorials statewide — including $13,000 for Dubbo — aiming to ensure that maintenance for these sacred sites is not forgotten.

The $12,980 conservation grant to Dubbo Council for our local monument is essentially seed money to guide future conservation works at the site, Dubbo RSL Sub-branch President Shaun Graham explained.

“It’s absolutely essential that we get these restoration works done both internally and externally,” Mr Graham said. “So that we can maintain its original form from the past 100 years, and give it new life for the next 100 years of community commemorations,” he added.

The money is to ensure that the service and sacrifice of veterans are honoured, Dubbo Mayor Councillor Josh Black echoed.

“As Mayor of Dubbo Regional Council, I have the great honour of being the custodian of the Dubbo War Memorial Cenotaph,” Cr Black said. “I thoroughly welcome this funding to guide future conservation works to ensure its longevity for the next 100 years."

The grants are awarded to councils, RSL sub-branches and community groups in cities, regional towns, and rural centres, with 27 similar funding announcements statewide, former Dubbo Mayor and MLC Stephen Lawrence said.

“Our local war memorials are a source of powerful community pride that remind us of who we are and how the past has shaped us,” Mr Lawrence said.

Conserving and maintaining memorials like ours here in Dubbo is something that must be done and I applaud all those involved,” he concluded.