Memorial Avenue - 1945 to 2005 - Merrylands, NSW, Australia
S 33° 50.258 E 150° 59.340
56H E 313921 N 6254028
This particular plaque at the World War II Memorial wall details the planting of x 44 trees, and placing of plaques in Memorial Avenue.
Waymark Code: WM10A44
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 03/30/2019
Views: 3
On the left-hand side of the Fountain are two concrete wall segments, with stainless plaques that list alphabetically the 44 service persons from this local area who died in World War Two. On the right-hand side of the fountain is another blue-painted concrete well segment, with three stainless steel panels. The top one is for the dedication of the Memorial in 2005. The stainless steel plaque for the Timeline is the bottom one, and below the one explaining the importance of VP-Day. The Timeline plaque reads:
MEMORIAL AVENUE
1945 Holroyd Municipal Council contributed £5 ($10) to the Chertsey Street
(now Memorial Avenue) Tree Planting Committee to plant several trees adjacent
to the Post Office and Theatre which was on the eastern corner of Merrylands Road.
1945-1960 Further trees were planted along Chertsey Street and plaques
with the names of the fallen Holroyd service perons in World War II were installed
on the tree guards.
1969 The tree guards were removed and the plaques mounted on concrete plinths
at the base of each tree.
1973 Chertsey Street was renamed Memorial Avenue on 13th September, 1973
in recognition of the trees planted in the street and the commemorative plaques.
1978 Merrylands Lions Club and Merrylands RSL Sub-Branch in conjunction with
Holroyd Municipal Council, constructed two memorial fountains and
a landscaped garden in front of the Council Chambers. The Lions Club initiated
the project in support of their involvement with the community.
1991 The Municipality of Holroyd was declared a City on 1st January, 1991.
2005 World War II Memorial Wall and Fountain were constructed to mark the
60th Anniversary of the Victory in the Pacific and replaced the fountain built
in 1978. The Memorial Wall lists the 44 service persons whose names are on the
plaques along Memorial Avenue. This Memorial was funded by Holroyd City Council,
Merrylands Sub-Branch and Merrylands RSL Club.
While the 'Victory in the Pacific' (VP-Day) plaque reads - if you are interested:
VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC - VP DAY
On the morning on the 15th August 1945, The emperor of Japan
accepted the ultimatum for Japan to surrender.
This marked the end of World War II in the Pacific and is
commemorated each year in Australia as VP Day.
The Prime Minister, Ben Chifley, broadcast across Australia
just after nine o'clock on this day the announcement that Japan
had bowed to the ultimatum issued by the Allies and peace was at hand.
The main streets of every city and town across Australia
were flooded with people as spontaneous celebrations ensued.
People danced in the streets as shredded paper from office buildings
rained down from above, bringing traffic to a stand still.
The Prime Minister declared 15th and 16th August 1945 public holidays
with the second day of celebrations giving way to
formal victory marches throughout major cities.
The Japanese Empire formerly surrendered on 2nd September 1945,
at a ceremony on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay,
and this became known as VJ Day.
This memorial is dedicated to the 44 service persons from
the Holroyd community who lost their lives
whilst serving their country during World War II.
Address: 16 Memorial Avenue, Merrylands, NSW, 2160, Australia
[Right outside the Holroyd City Council Chambers]
Visited: 0842, Friday, 28 December, 2018
Visit Instructions:At least one good photo you have personally obtained and a brief story of your visit. Any additions or corrections to the information about the Waymark (for instance, have the hours open to the public changed) will be greatly appreciated.