The Memorial Hill rejuvenation committee is seeking donations to finish beautifying the memorial, including new lettering for the memorial, gardens and steps. 

Work needs to be completed by April 25, 2015 when Parkes marks 100 years from the Gallipoli landings. 

Committee chair, Parkes shire councillor Pat Smith, said there was still a lot to do.

While closed to the public last month, the hill was a hive of activity as volunteers and professionals worked to restore and paint the memorial.

Working bees cleared an area of the hill to make way for a ‘theatres of war’ gardens area which will feature plants representative of the various nations and signage explaining the project to visitors. 

While a lot has been done and many hours of volunteer labor donated to clear trees and level ground, funds are needed.

“We need to buy the plants for the gardens, purchase timber for steps and granite and gravel to fill in between the steps,” Cr Smith said. 

Defence forces have served in additional conflicts since the wars were listed on the memorial and new lettering is needed.

“We needed to get new letters forged so to keep them all the same, we are looking to replace them all,” Cr Smith said.

Cr Smith said the project had grown beyond what she envisaged when the committee formed in 2013, but if it all came together Memorial Hill would again be a great place for families to picnic and look over Parkes and district.

“It will benefit the community and visitors for decades to come,” she said. 

“We wanted to beautiful the hill and make it the icon it used to be.

“We wanted signage for various points of interest and a plaque on the history of the memorial.”

Central West Credit Union has kickstarted the fundraising with a $2000 donation. 

You can call into the Credit Union at 269 Clarinda Street to make a donation.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.