Shire of Plantagenet partners with Mt Barker RSL to install new memorial and upgrade plaques and lighting

A new memorial recognising all conflicts since the 1901 Federation will be ready in Mt Barker in time for the 2026 Anzac Day service. Work is due to start in November on the installation of the new monument, and there will also be upgrades to the Mt Barker War Memorial and improvements to the We Remember Them Walk in Centenary Park. The Shire of Plantagenet has partnered with the Mt Barker RSL sub-branch and allocated $20,614 in its 2025-26 budget towards the work. Additional money has come in the form of $10,000 from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and its commemorative grants program, plus the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program, which allocated $10,000 to Mt Barker RSL. The total cost of the Mt Barker War Memorial Enhancement Project is estimated to be $40,614. Also being improved will be the plaques along the avenue of trees in Centenary Park, and the lighting which illuminates the war memorial flagpole and cenotaph. The new memorial will be installed on the southern end of the walk and shire president Len Handasyde said the upgrades would improve the experience of the increasing number of people who attend the Anzac services. “This project will enhance Centenary Park for the Plantagenet community, many of whom are past and active servicemen and women,” Cr Handasyde said. “Attendance at the Anzac Day service and march has grown in recent years, which reflects the strong local support for those who have bravely served their country. “The shire is pleased to partner with the Mt Barker RSL sub-branch on this significant project.” Mt Barker RSL secretary Darryl Porter said the new memorial would be welcomed by his members. “It’s about recognising all the places where our members served and, in many cases, made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “A lot of conflicts get rather forgotten over time and it’s also about our peace-keeping service as well.”