Large crowd for Pearl Beach dawn service
A large crowd of locals and visitors gathered on the beachfront for the Pearl Beach Anzac Day dawn service.
Members of the community made readings and presentations.
"It was a beautiful and solemn start to Anzac Day, with gentle guitar music playing before the dawn service," said Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch.
Following the beach service, morning tea was served at the Pearl Beach Memorial Hall.
Ms Tesch laid a wreath at the new memorial at the hall, finished recently with a State Government grant to the Pearl Beach Progress Association.
"The memorial hall and the war memorial were officially unveiled on September 16, 1950," said association publicity officer Ms Lynne Lillico.
"At that time, Pearl Beach was a popular spot for ex-servicemen to live and holiday after the Second World War.
"There was sub-branch of the RSSAILA, now the RSL, at that time who used the newly-completed hall for their monthly meetings.
"The Women's Auxiliary catered for the official opening when it was dedicated as a Memorial Hall."
The war memorial plaque was unveiled at the same time.
"By 2022, the masonry of the memorial was in poor condition.
"The original brickwork had been rendered and bagged, and the original marble plaque replaced in bronze."
Ms Lillico said the progress association made a successful application for a grant to upgrade the memorial in solid Sydney sandstone.
RKH Heritage Architect oversaw the work by experienced stonemasons from the RJC Group, she said.
"Master stonemason Mr Sefton Willis, and a team from RJC, undertook the work."
The Memorial Hall and Pearl Beach War Memorial are now owned by the Pearl Beach Progress Association which was established in 1929, and grew out of informal gatherings of residents to discuss local problems and community projects.
Pictured are Mr Sefton Willis and his team with Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch.
SOURCE:
Media release, 26 Apr 2023
Lynne Lillico, Pearl Beach Progress Association