On Friday morning, approximately 25 people gathered at the Cootamundra War Memorial in Albert Park for the Cootamundra event of the Centenary of Anzac Soil Collection Project.
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The event was part of a large series of events taking place around the state this year with soil being collected from close to 1,700 towns of enlistment from the First World War.
As part of the formalities, a small sample of soil was collected from the grounds of the memorial.
The soil will feature in a new exhibition space in the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park along with plaques and soil samples from every town, suburb and locality that enlistees gave as their place of address.
The Hon. David Elliott MP, Minister for Veterans Affairs and the NSW Office for Veterans Affairs, officiated at the ceremony.
In his address, Mr Elliot acknowledged the significance of Cootamundra in veteran history as being one of the towns featured in the Kangaroo March in WWI and also as the home of WWII Victoria Cross recepient Charles Groves Anderson.
Mr Elliott also introduced Oliver Litchfield, Cootamundra High School’s ANZAC Ambassador, who will be travelling to Beersheeba later this month to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheeba, which will honour the Light Horse Brigade.
Oliver is one of six students travelling with the Prime Minister’s group.
The Centenary of Anzac Soil Project will open on Armistice Day, 11 November, 2018.
| Words by Leigh Bowden
