This memorial consists of a Lone Pine tree, a flagpole with a walkway leading to it, and two dedication plaques mounted on basalt stones on the western and eastern ends of the walkway.
At a general meeting of the Gerringong RSL sub-Branch in 2013, it was determined something special would be held for the Centenary of Anzac commemorations in 2015. The Gerringong RSL Soldiers Memorial Hall was not an ideal venue for services such as Anzac Day, because of its location in a high-traffic area in the town centre. An area on the eastern headland of Gerringong, at the intersection of the eastern end of Belinda Street and the southern end of Tasman Drive, was identified as a more ideal location to hold a dawn service. The area already had a descendant of the original Lone Pine, which was planted in 2004 and accompanied by a history plaque attached to a bushrock.
The sub-Branch approached Kiama Municipal Council to gain approval for a flagpole, and a plaque attached to a similar stone, to be erected in the area next to the Lone Pine. The council provided and erected the flagpole and the stone for the plaque. The dawn service was held at 6am on Anzac Day, 25 April 2015 and was so well attended, with approximately 1,200 people, it has continued to be held at this location ever since.
In 2015, the sub-Branch received a grant from the Australian Government's Department of Veterans' Affairs to construct a footpath from Tasman Drive to the flagpole, and to place gardens along the path. This work was also completed with the help of the council. The path was unveiled in 2018, as well as a plaque commemorating 100 years since the cessation of the First World War. The original Lone Pine stands approximately 10 metres south.
Centenary of Anzac
25th April 2015
This plaque was unveiled to commemorate those young Australian & New Zealand troops who stormed the beaches of the Gallipoli Peninsula one hundred years ago today
Those who offered & those who gave their lives should be forever honoured by our nation
Lest we forget
Erected by the Gerringong RSL sub-Branch
Remembrance Day
11-11-2018
This plaque and path were unveiled on this day to commemorate cessation of hostilities of World War 1
At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month 1918 one hundred years ago today
It also honours the Australian personnel killed and wounded in the conflict
63,300 killed in action
8,700 died on service
150,000 wounded
Lest we forget
Funded by Australian Dept. Of Veterans Affairs – Constructed by Kiama Municipal Council
Plaque donated by Lakeside Memorial Park, erected by Gerringong RSL sub-Branch.
This tree has been grown from the original tree famously known as the Lone Pine, where the original ANZACs fought the Turks in the 1915 battle at Gallipoli. It stands in memory of the 4000 men who died on this battlefield of World War 1.
Dedicated on the 15th May 2004 by Councillor Sandra McCarthy Mayor of Kiama Municipal Council
Arthur Campbell, President of the Gerringong RSL sub-Branch
Les Davey, former Councillor of Kiama Municipal Council and Chair of the Tidy Towns Committee.