A lions share of the funds, a total of $32,715 delivered through the Anzac Centenary Local Grants and Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grant programs, was secured by Nelson Bay RSL Sub-Branch to restore and install new memorial items in Apex Park.

“The funding has helped us make changes that will engender community spirit and involvement in Anzac traditions,” Tom Lupton from the sub-branch said. “We’re very proud of what we’ve been able to achieve.”

In 2014 the sub-branch received $2948 to restore existing name panels on the Apex Park memorial and in 2015 was granted $29,767 to install a commemorative stele. 

It was part of a suite of changes made to the park starting with the $240,000 Port Stephens Council-funded relocation and upgrade of the war memorial in 2013, which included moving the National Service and Combined Forces Association of Australia memorial, the installation of new seating supplied by Port Stephens Legacy and the planting of a lone pine with plaque and authentic World War I Diggers tin hat.

A white plaque commemorating the men and women who defended Greece during WWI and WWII, presented to the sub-branch by the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, was dedicated at the Apex Park war memorial in September 2017.

Then and now: Nelson Bay war memorial

Next to the white plaque, the text of which reads both Greek and English, is a second bronze and marble plaque. It serves as a gesture of gratitude from the Greek Australian community for the Anzacs who “defended democracy in its birthplace during both world wars”.

The club is set to soon receive $3000 in Stronger Communities Program funding to cover its latest project –the refurbishment and installation of the heritage-listed remains of the Nelson Bay memorial steps at Apex Park.

“Our major works are now done, we’ve done what we wanted to do,” Mr Lupton said. “The council is working on [Nelson Bay Town Centre and Foreshore Strategy]. We’ll wait for that to come out before making further changes.”

The lone pine in Apex Park:

Karuah RSL Sub-Branch received $7717 between 2014-2015 to produce a commemorative booklet on WWI soldiers from the town, with the research carried out by Karuah History Group, and install six new plaques to the war memorial.

Raymond Terrace RSL Sub-Branch was granted $3640 in 2015 to refurbish the Seaham Knitting Circle memorial. The sub-branch was presented a new, much larger Australian flag for the Seaham memorial in March by Dr David Gillespie, the federal member for Lyne.

In 2014, Tilligerry RSL Sub-Branch received $660 to buy and install a memorial plaque.

Other groups to receive funds between 2014-2017 was Port Stephens Veterans and Citizens Aged Care ($515  for an Anzac mural), Port Stephens Legacy ($4350 for an Anzac centenary concert) and Tanilba Bay Public School ($2727 for a memorial garden and plaque).