THE names of 53 former Dandenong Primary School students are preserved on the school’s World War I honour board.
Tragically, 12 of those names have a tiny cross next to them, they were the unlucky ones who did not return to their home town from the Great War.
As part of the commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign, the school has received a federal government grant to have its honour board cleaned and restored.
Lawrie West of Dandenong business West Award and Print, and Seaford restoration expert Barry Rea removed the fragile board from the school’s foyer a fortnight ago.
More than 30 man hours will go into bringing the board back to its original glory.
“We’ve already given it a first clean,“ Mr Rea said.
“We will then repair any damage and relpace anything that’s missing.
“Then it will be coated in its original shellac coating and we’ll start repairing the gilding on the lettering. It will then get a light wax and polish.
“We hope it will look like something that has been cared for for 100 years rather than stuck on a wall and left to gather dust.“
Now the search is on for relatives of those young men whose names are memorialised on the honour board.
Principal Christine Toth is working with the Dandenong and District Historical Society to piece together the stories behind the names and would love to hear from anyone related to the former students.
Ms Toth said the school would host a rededication ceremony on Saturday 18 April to which the community and relatives of the soldiers will be invited.
The morning will also include the planting of a Gallipoli oak, grown from an acorn brought home by soliders from the Gallipoli peninsula, in the school grounds.
Ms Toth said the honour board was held in special reverance by students and teachers alike.
“On Anzac Day we do refer to the board and speak to the current students about the students from this school who went to the First World War.
“It is wonderful to be able to link the history of the school with a broader local history and give the kids a good idea of the history of Dandenong.“
Those who are related to any of the soldiers listed on the honour board are urged to contact Christine Toth on 9792 2743 or email dandenong.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au.
– Narelle Coulter
Names on the honour board
Ball, Brock, Burn, Bellett, Cooper, Fink, Griffiths, Fawcett, Green, Howse, Holschier, Hunt, Keating, Kingsbury, Kelley, Leigh, Male, Masters, Mitchell, McLean, McConnell, McFarlane, McDonald, Newsome, Orgill, Ordish, Paydon, Pickett, Purdy, Reedy, Rodd, Roulston, Swords, Todd, Titcher, Tulloch, Veal, Vizard and Williams.
