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Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre

Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre
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Peter Levarre-Waters
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Peter Levarre-Waters
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Peter Levarre-Waters
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Peter Levarre-Waters
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Peter Levarre-Waters
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Peter Levarre-Waters
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Description / Background

From the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre website:

The Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre has been named to recognise those soldiers from Bathurst who served defending the nation. An honour role is situated in the lower foyer and the Broken Blade Memorial takes pride of place at the front of the building. Unveiled on Saturday August 15th 1970 the Broken Blade Memorial commemorates soldiers of the Eight Division of the AIF most of whom trained at the former Army camp on Limekilns Rd. The column is shaped in the form of a blade. At the broken tip the figure '8' with a sword cross is incised, recalling the grim days of Japan's initial drive to the South on mainland Asia - a drive which eventually halted on the very doorstep of Australia. The Memorial pays tribute to the many soldiers of the Eighth Division who sacrificed their lives in the Malaya campaign and to the many survivors of the Division who still suffer the effects of the war and the ordeal of Prisoner of War Camps.

Inscription

Facade

Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre

Broken Blade sculpture plaque

The concept of this memorial is that of a warrior's blade which had been tested for battle, found ready, and stamped with the armourer's mark, 'The 8 and the cross'. The blade with its missing point symbolises the division. The broken blade leaves 8 partly defaced but clearly identifiable, for the division was not broken. The sword and cross symbolising that the 8 division fought for a Christian civilisation and believed their fight was a just one.

The stone from which the memorial was sculptured came from Tarana, between Bathurst and Lithgow.

The division fought in Malaya, Singapore, Timor, Ambon and New Britain. Battle casualties and deaths whilst prisoners of war of the Japanese were very heavy.

Foundation plate

Bathurst War Memorial Civic Centre

This foundation plate was unveiled by Hon. C. A. Kelly M.L.A Chief Secretary on the 17th October, 1959.

Ald. O.G Parnham - Deputy Mayor

L.N. Bant, J. M. Carrick, J.H. Larson, J.N.McGrath Ald. P.J. Moodie, A.L. Morse O.B.E, J.M.P. Smith, C.K.B White M.M., O.F. Wood D. Trevor Jones and associated Architects. K. M. Forrest Town Clerk G. F. Fish Mayor Max Cooper and Sons Pty. Limited Builder

Plaque

1939 - 1945

From this district where most of its units assembled and trained for battle, A.I.F Malaya and the Eighth Australian Division A.I.F went out to long years of tribulation in Malaya and Southern Asia. In battle courageous in captivity its spirit remained unbroken. 15th August, 1970

Roll

Roll of Honour

for

Bathurst Citizens who paid the Supreme Sacrifice

for their Service to our Country in all Wars

Boer War 1899-1902

[Names]

World War I 1914-1918

[Names]

World War II 1939-1945

[Names]

Korean War 1950-1953

[Name]

Vietnam War 1962-1972

[Names]

Gulf War 1991

[Name]

Lest We Forget

*Taken from the Bathurst City Council and Suburbs map compiled on July 15 1996

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Sidebar
Address
105 William Street
Bathurst NSW 2795
Local Government Area
Bathurst Regional
Setting
Roadside
Memorial type
Board/roll/plaque/tablet
Building
Statue/sculpture/artwork
Recorded by
Peter Levarre-Waters
Year of construction
1959
Dedication date
17 October 1959
Conflict/s
South African War (Boer War), 1899–1902
First World War, 1914–18
Second World War, 1939–45
Korean War, 1950–53
Vietnam War, 1962–75
Iraq: the First Gulf War, 1990–91