People are often curious about Wagin's War Memorial.
Has it always been broken? When was it broken?
Somebody has even said that it was damaged back in 1967 when moved from its original position of 1925.
I was asked these questions at this year's Anzac Service, so with a little bit of time on my hands I have 'googled ' the questions and came up with some interesting answers.
Even better, I came up with a photograph of the opening occasion in front of a huge crowd by the then State Governor Sir William Campion in March 1925.
Unfortunately the faded photograph is unable to be reproduced but it does confirm clearly that the monument has always had theappearance of a broken shaft and it is recorded that it representsthe broken lives resulting from the consequences of war .
The memorial stood first in a park called Piesse Park , which is where the swimming pool now is .
The entire area , minus the pool , was called Piesse Park and the monument was placed centrally with a low stone and looped iron fence and impressive Memorial Gates surrounding it.
In 1925 , there were 64 names listed on the monument , fallen heroes from World War 1.
25 more names were added after World War 2.
Forty years later in the mid 1960's after twenty years or more of discussion it was decided to build a swimming pool in Wagin and Piesse Park was chosen as the location.
The monument was moved from its original position to where it is today in the front ofthe Wagin Memorial Swimming Pool.
It was not damaged in the move .
Glenys Ball, Wagin
