Among the areas Minister for Veterans Affairs David Elliott and Nationals candidate for Orange Scott Barrett visited during a trip to the Parkes Shire on Wednesday was the Trundle War Memorial Hall.

He announced a total of $11,000 will go towards the next stage of the Trundle War Memorial Project and to prepare the soldiers’ room for painting.

In June the Trundle RSL Sub-Branch was awarded a $10,000 grant through the NSW Government’s Community War Memorials Fund. 

“This fund has been essential in supporting the repair and upkeep of war memorials throughout NSW,” Mr Elliott said.

“The grant for the Trundle War Memorial Hall will see repairing and painting done on the internal and external walls.”  

The hall, built in 1926 to commemorate the men and women from Trundle who served in the First World War, also houses the soldiers’ room – a space dedicated to Trundle’s ex-service people. 

“The Memorial Hall was built in 1926 to honour the 53 men from Trundle and the surrounding area who served in the First World War,” Mr Elliott said.

“Uniquely, the land for the hall was donated on the condition a room be made available to returning service men and women, and for that room to then become a museum if ever the day came when an end to conflict meant soldiers were no longer returning.   

“We’re granting an additional $1000 to go towards plastering the soldiers’ room in preparation for painting, to ensure this important historic space is preserved for future generations.

“This small but vibrant community has seen men and women serve their country in all the major conflicts of the 20th century, including the First and Second World Wars and the Vietnam War.”