A MONTH after axeing “war memorial” from the names of Henty and Holbrook’s swimming pools, Greater Hume has reversed its move with a unanimous decision to restore the words.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The about-face followed a wide backlash, which mayor Heather Wilton acknowledged after the u-turn at Wednesday night’s council meeting.
“It was not council’s intention to show disrespect and council regrets that it had created significant anxiety within the community,” Cr Wilton said.
“(This) resolution demonstrates that council has listened and to restore ‘war memorial’ into the naming of the pools is the right outcome.”
Past Henty Public School principal Theresa Kane and current Henty teacher Mary Liston stressed to councillors the significance of the recognition in speeches before the decision on Wednesday night.
“It’s a tiny token maybe and while it was considered it mightn’t be an issue, obviously you are very aware by the feedback you’ve had that it is a major, major issue and I trust in your judgement to support us,” Mrs Liston said.
Henty councillor Doug Meyer, the only voice against the decision at last month’s meeting, moved the rescission motion of colleague Annette Schilg.
Absent due to leave, Cr Schilg’s regret was expressed in a letter read to the meeting by Cr Meyer.
“I admit to have erred and genuinely regret having voted in favour of that decision,” Cr Schilg wrote.
“Today I openly and sincerely apologise.”
Former mayor Denise Osborne, was not party to the original decision, said she could not say which way she would have voted.
“I believe that one thing we’ve gained from this is to hear from our community,” she said.
“In so many instances they don’t contact us.
“Unfortunately they contact us when they think we’ve done something wrong and in this I case I believe what we’re saying is that ‘we concur, we possibly should have given it a bit more thought’.”
The council’s environment and planning director Colin Kane had suggested the ‘war memorial’ links be erased in the wake of major upgrades at both pools.
“Retaining the word ‘memorial’ in the name of the pools may not be necessary or appropriate,” he advised.
Following the latest motion they will now each be referred to as a “war memorial swimming pool” and signage chronicling the history of each site will be erected.
Swimming pool committees and RSL sub-branches in Henty and Holbrook will be consulted about the details of the signs.
The Henty pool opened in January 1959 and its Holbrook in December 1961, with the two World Wars still in living memory for many townsfolk.
