Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

COORABIE WAR MEMORIAL REFURBISHMENT PROJECT
April 6th, 2016

Ms Clare Hennessy,
Executive Officer,
ANZAC Day Commemoration Council,
Veterans SA,
GPO Box 1045,
Adelaide, SA, 5001

Dear Clare,
I am writing this letter to you to request financial assistance by applying for a “Saluting Their Service Commemorations” Grant for the refurbishment of the Coorabie War Memorial, situated on the Far West Coast of South Australia. This district is 180 kilometres west of Ceduna, the last dry land farming region before the Nullabour Plain heading to Western Australia.
My parents Ray and Gavina Giles both were born and raised in this area and my mother’s father, Walter Fox constructed the War Memorial adjacent to the crossroads next to the Community Hall at Coorabie in 1950, which makes it 65 years old. It is a truly magnificent achievement considering the era that it was built in and the isolation and remoteness in regard to accessing steel, concrete, bricks and white marble. (Please refer to accompanying photographs.) To the naked eye it is a memorial that would be seen to be fabricated and built by trade’s people, instead of a farmer from Coorabie, a true testament of the skill that this gentleman possessed. Walter himself enlisted and fought in World War 1 and was fortunate enough to return home.
My father’s brother, Bill Giles served in World War 11 and never returned home and his name is on the War Memorial, as he was killed in action at the age of 19 years old.
The total number of names on that memorial is 15, a significant loss to a small tight knit community such as Coorabie, and that War Memorial is an icon that proudly stands at the junctions of the four roads at Coorabie next to the Coorabie Hall that was built in 1910.

As mentioned at the introduction of my letter, the War Memorial needs refurbishing, in that the steel work is eroding away, the brick works surrounding the memorial and the concrete block on which the memorial stands needs to be completely over hauled, and the flag poles need replacing. This is to be expected as the structure is 65 years old and nothing lasts forever.
I feel very strongly about promoting this project, particularly for the district of Coorabie and their surrounding neighbors. It depicts the resilience and dedication of these people that lived in these very harsh and and distant communities and their allegiance to the freedom of Australia was never ever questioned. That as well as having family ties at Coorabie makes me proud to be a descendant of that district.
I have collected quotes and letters of support, of which are accompanying this application and these quotes are for civil work, steel work, concrete work, paving, polishing the memorial and re lettering the memorial. There is also in house support from the Coorabie community in providing labour and machinery to assist in this project. I have also sent letters out lining of what I am proposing to do to the Coorabie Progress Association, Fowlers Bay Progress association, Peter Treloar, MP, State seat of Filnders, Rowan Ramsey, MP, Federal seat of Grey, The Outback Communities Authority and the Ceduna and Port Lincoln Branches of the RSL.
I am prepared to project manage the refurbishment of the memorial and ask that you consider supporting the funding for this project. I trust that you will consider this request and if you require any further clarification on any of the above mentioned points, please feel free to contact me. I have also sent the same letter to the State Government as well Bronwyn.
Yours Sincerely,
Lyndon Giles,