Tallawang Public School First World War Memorial Cabinet

This memorial is a timber cabinet which was originally located in the Tallawang Public School where it served as the school’s first aid cabinet. In addition to its role as a first aid cabinet, it also served as a roll of honour board to acknowledge the pupils from the school who had served in the First World War. The cabinet is now believed to be held in private hands and is no longer available for viewing. 

Printed on the front doors of the cabinet are the names of eleven pupils from the Tallawang Public School who served during the First World War. On the top of the cabinet is a classically designed timber pediment with the dedication details printed on it. At the time of its unveiling in 1919, the cabinet included a pair of small, crossed flags, the British Union Jack and the Australian flag, mounted on top of the pediment. The listing of the names on the front of the cabinet are not in alphabetical order, which indicates that it may have been unveiled during the war. The interior of the cabinet has a series of small wooden shelves and compartments built into it where various items of first aid equipment, such as bottles and bandages, could be stored. 

On 29 January 1919 the The Sydney Mail published a detailed report of rural community life in Tallawang. It emphasised the role that the school played in the community. Included in this article was a photograph of the Memorial First Aid Cabinet.

The Tallawang Public School opened in May 1881 and closed in September 1941. The Dunedoo Historical Society states that the memorial cabinet was transferred to the Tucklan Public School following the closure. The Tucklan Public school was later moved to the site of the Dunedoo School in July 1952 where it served as a library and sewing room. The memorial cabinet is now believed to be held in private hands, however the Dunedoo Museum holds historic photographs of it.