WORLD War I veterans from the old Hawkesbury Agricultural College were honoured with an Anzac memorial, unveiled at UWS’s Hawkesbury campus last week.
The memorial would be familiar to thousands of Hawkesbury people as it was the centrepiece of this year’s Anzac ceremony at McQuade Park. The memorial was moved to the university after the ceremony.
The memorial was made possible by the federal government’s Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program, which donated $37,950 to the Richmond and Windsor RSL sub-branches.
‘‘The memorial has been created to honour some 750 men from the Hawkesbury Agricultural College who served in World War I,’’ Macquarie federal MP Louise Markus said.
‘‘Dr William Helsham, a doctor in Richmond who taught at the college, enlisted in what was to become the 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance and for that reason, 40 college men joined the Light Horse Field Ambulance and some 135 men were horsemen.’’
Mrs Markus also said 27 joined the Australian Flying Corps, almost 60 served in the Veterinary Corps and at least 70 served with the artillery units.
‘‘The establishment of this commemorative memorial is a contribution to the local community that we can be proud of and honours the centenary of our nation’s service at Gallipoli,’’ she said.
The Windsor & District RSL Sub-branch president, Geoff Brand, praised UWS for honouring the memory of college veterans. ‘‘They hold two Anzac Day services out at the Hawkesbury campus every year but didn’t have a memorial,’’ Mr Brand said. ‘‘That’s why we have given it to UWS. The memorial will commemorate those Australians who served in World War I as well as any conflict or war thereafter.’’
Mrs Markus said she felt privileged to have helped obtain the funding and congratulated the sub-branches.
