The Sugarloaf and Districts Action Group and the Holmesville Progress Association have set a new goal – by Anzac Day next year, 290 missing names will be added to the West Wallsend memorial.

Presently, the Carrington Street memorial only contains the names of servicemen from World War I.

The groups need $60,000 to add the names of men and women who have served since then.

They have already raised $20,000 through grants, raffles and other fundraising but need more money to complete the task.

Sugarloaf and Districts Action Group president Anne Andrews said it had been a struggle to get local support.

The Cardiff RSL Sub-Branch donated $500 and Lake Macquarie City Council $1000 – the maximum amount allowed through the Donations and Financial Assistance Policy.

Mrs Andrews said she couldn’t understand why it was so hard to raise the funds.

Meanwhile, the Sugarloaf Action Group and Holmesville Progress Association have spent the past few months trawling through old records to differentiate people who registered at West Wallsend but may not have come from the area.

Local servicemen and women from West Wallsend, Holmesville, Barnsley, Edgeworth, Killingworth, O’Donneltown and Seahampton are all to be included on the new list.

“We are also leaving space, so if we have missed someone, people can get in contact with us and we can add more names if need be.”

To help raise more money, a fun day will be held at the West Wallsend Workers Club car park on November 22, from 9am to 2pm. All proceeds raised on the day will go directly to the memorial fund.