What to do with the previous memorial.
The item in question was the old wooden cross installed to commemorate and honour all those who served in wars after World War II.
The new lakeside memorial was changed to be a plaque on solid stone, to be in keeping with others at the site.
Benalla RSL president Paul Hartland said that while pleased with its replacement, the original memorial cross was too important to simply discard.
So, he went to the Benalla Woodworkers Association (Woodies) to see if they could help.
And help they did, restoring the cross to its original glory.
On Thursday, December 4 the cross was installed outside the RSL rooms, on Nunn St, by Benalla’s Terry O’Brien and Alan Riley.
Mr Hartland thanked them, and Bob Preece from the Woodies, who led the restoration.
“One of our previous presidents, Jeff Lewis, his brother-in-law was the one who made it originally,” Mr Hartland said.
“It holds a lot of memories. In particular it’s sentimental to Jeff’s wife, Margaret, so we didn’t want to throw it away.”
Mr Hartland said they wanted it outside the RSL rooms so it was still on show to the community.
Mr Preece said it was an honour to be asked to undertake the restoration.
“I had a lot of encouragement from the boys at the Woodies,” he said.
“But things like this, we're always ready to do.
“And it’s a pleasure to see the result, particularly sitting out here where it is.
“I think it's wonderful.”
Mr Hartland thanked everyone who assisted.
“The words were put back on by Marty (Davis) at Benalla Signs,” he said.
“Thank you to him, and the Woodies, Terry, Alan and everyone else who helped.”
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