CRESWICK’S World War I history is about to be put back in the frame.
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A $14,770 federal government grant will go towards refurbishing Creswick Primary School’s World War I honour board and to the Creswick 1915 Anzac celebrations.
Ballarat MP Catherine King announced the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program funding on Friday at the Creswick Museum.
“Creswick 1915 includes a series of events that will turn back the clock 100 years through historical re-enactments to commemorate the service of over 850 men from the Creswick district who enlisted in the Great War,” Ms King said.
“Creswick Museum will restore and display the primary school’s impressive First World War honour board during the Anzac centenary.
“In addition, the museum will conduct extensive research on the 236 people listed, to tell their stories and preserve their memories.
“These are both important projects that will reveal the experience of an entire community at war a century ago.”
Creswick-Smeaton RSL secretary Phil Carter said $10,000 would go towards the April 24 Anzac vigil, where residents would gather at the cenotaph, watch the movie Gallipoli, listen to music from the era and hear how the soldiers spent the night before the battle, before attending the traditional dawn service.
The Creswick Light Horse Troop will lead 50 troopers on horseback and foot through the township before arriving at the train station where a World War I vintage steam train will be waiting.
The entire town is also being encouraged to dress in period clothing.
The honour board, which includes artist Allan Barnaldo, former National Gallery director Sir Daryl Lindsay and Sister M. Lang, who established the Royal Australian Air Force’s World War II nursing unit, will also be refurbished using a $4770 grant.
The Anzac exhibition, They Answered the Call, will begin on March 6.
fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au