$14,934 has been secured for the Gravesend Community Group to restore the local 106-year-old cenotaph.
The group has been approved for a New South Wales Government grant through the Community War Memorials Fund 2026/2027.
The project will see the granite plinth repolished, repair works and restoring inscriptions and lead lettering.
Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan said the project will preserve the history of the site, and the sacrifices made by soldiers.
“It’s so important to protect the heritage associated with war memorials and honour service men and women,” Mr Moylan said.
“The Cenotaph and World War II memorial is in need of some TLC, so this grant will ensure that happens.
“For more than a century it’s been a centrepiece of the community.”
Gravesend Community Group’s Fiona Coulson said the preservation of the memorial is highly important to the community, who pride themselves by honouring service men and women every year on Anzac Day.
“Gravesend Public School have participated every year with their presentation at Anzac Day Service,” Mrs Coulson said.
“The Cenotaph was opened in September 1920 by Lavinia Pike whose brothers were the Heath brothers were killed in action in World War I.
“Our town still have members of the community who had family go to war. Some came home some, never came home.
“We pay our respects every year with visitors stopping in Gravesend at Anzac Park.
“The restoration will preserve Gravesend war history for many years to come.
“This is so important to Gravesend and future generations.”
The restoration will be undertaken by Armidale based company Piddington’s