THE Bulahdelah War Memorial Trust has had the Anzac centenary on its mind for four years.
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In 2011 when the trust reformed and developed a strategy for its future, adequately commemorating the 100 years of Anzac was high on the priority list said the trust’s Art Brown.
‘‘We rejuvenated the Crown Lands reserve that has the war memorial hall on it, extended the hall to include a Men’s Shed, renovated the hall and outfitted it for exhibitions and formed a subgroup of volunteers to concentrate on the Anzac centenary,’’ Mr Brown said.
Each year since 2011 the trust has held an Anzac exhibition in the memorial hall and adjoining school of arts hall. However, this year’s exhibition would be the crowning jewel.
The trust has secured the Australian War Memorial’s digital exhibition A Camera on Gallipoli, featuring World War I photographs taken by Sir Charles Ryan.
Mr Ryan was an Australian Imperial Force surgeon. While serving with the AIF in Turkey in 1915 he took 39 candid shots, which is what will be on exhibition at the hall in Bulahdelah between April 23 and 27.
The trust also restored the Bulahdelah district 1914-1918 soldiers’ memorial gates, which were dedicated at the showground on November 15, 2014.
Also in November, the trust was granted $14,000 through the federal centenary program to establish a memorial garden next to the hall, hold its commemorative exhibition and a dedication service.
During the exhibition Mr Brown will launch his book Bulahdelah Boys – Family and Mates in the Great War. The book identifies the 72 WWI soldiers that were from, enlisted at or had next of kin living in Bulahdelah.
"The town, unbeknowst to man, has a strong Anzac history," Mr Brown said.
A Camera on Gallipoli will be open to the public all day Anzac Day and between 10am and 3pm other days.