Rededication of Memorial Tower on its 75th anniversary to those who served in Armed Conflicts between 1948 and 1972. Harry Gillham, President of the Eltham District Historical Society and Convenor of the Nillumbik Shire Council's Advisory Committee for the War Memorial at Kangaroo Ground was for some years working on the refurbishment of the Shire of Eltham War memorial tower of rememberance and the surrounding Memorial Park. The Committee arranged to produce plaques to commemorate the armed conflicts in Korea, Malaysia, Borneo and Vietnam. The plaques were funded by public donations and cost $10,000. The community donated via donation boxes placed at Eltham Library. NL 140 Sept 2001 Governor John landy and other digniaries attended the event for the unveiling of the plaque. Governor Landy unveiled the plaque which was attached to the historical tower in November 2001.75th anniversary, dean stewart, dedication, dennis ward, governor of victoria, harry gilham, john landy, kangaroo ground, mick woiwod, rededication ceremony, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, shire of eltham war memorial tower, sigmund jorgensen, war memorial tower, fran bailey mp, des burgess, jim wandin, cr. penny mullinar, cr. phillip hughes, cr. bill penrose, nillumbik shire council, rsl - diamond valley veterans, victorian police, australian army, country fire authority, cfa, salvation army, army church, kangaroo ground primary school, kangaroo ground tower committee, nicholas pelling, catherine dale (nsc ceo)

The Eltham Obelisk was originally located at the corner of Bridge and Main Roads in 1919. In 1943 (WW2) the local community commenced plans to establish the Eltham War Memorial, a living memorial to benefit the children as opposed to a one in stone as per the obelisk. The Eltham War Memorial Trust was established in 1945. In 1947 the Trust intended for the Obelisk to be relocated from Bridge Street and Main Road to the Garden of Remembrance which was planned as part of the Baby Health Centre which was to be the first of three buildings of the Eltham War Memorial to be built in 1951. In 1951 the Eltham RSL was invited to be represented on the Eltham War Memorial Trust. Around this time, with pending roadworks, the obelisk was relocated to the front garden of the Eltham RSL sub branch on Main Road for safe keeping. In 2007, a suggestion was proposed by Harry Gilham (President, EDHS) to John Cohen (ERSL) to claim a special site along with the historic Shillinglaw trees on the now vacant former Eltham Shire Office site adjacent to the Eltham War Memorial precinct for relocation of the obelisk. In 2010 following the financial collapse and sale of the Eltham RSL Sub-Branch property and amalgamation with the Montmorency Eltham RSL sub-branch, the location of the obelisk was again in immediate jepoardy and in conjunction with Nillumbik Shire Council, the obelisk was relocated in front of the Eltham War Memorial buildings in preparation for the Dawn Service on Anzac Day 2012. Contents: Newspaper article: Eltham Obelisk of 1919, Harry Gilham, August 2000 as well as draft submitted dated 22 Aug 2000 Newspaper article: Eltham, The Advertiser 15 Nov 1918 and 18 Nov 1918 Newspaper article: An Obelisk at Eltham, The Advertiser, 11 Jul 1919 Newspaper advertisement: Unveiling of Obelisk at Eltham, The Advertiser, 1 Aug 1919 Newspaper article: Eltham Soldiers’ Memorial; Unveiled by Sir William Irvine, The Argus, Monday, 4 Aug 1919, p8 Newspaper article: Eltham Memorial to Fallen Soldiers, Diamond Creek Valley Advocate, 8 Aug 1919 Newspaper article: Memorial to the Fallen; Unveiled at Eltham, The Age, Monday, 4th August 1919 Newspaper article: Programme - Presentation of German Machine Gun at the Obelisk, Eltham on Sunday, 8th August, 1920, at 3.30 P.M. Newspaper article: article about presentation of a war trophy, a heavy machine gun placed beside obelisk, The Advertiser, 13 Aug 1920 Newspaper article: Eltham: ANZAC Services, The Advertiser, Friday, May 2, 1924 Newspaper article: Eltham War Memorial, The Advertiser, Oct 26, 1928 Handwritten note from Harry Gilham (President EDHS) to John Cohen (ERSL) regarding history of Eltham RSL site and 1947 newspaper article "Eltham War Memorial Trust "Garden of Remembrance" referencing relocation of Obelisk to the proposed Garden of Remembrance at the Baby Health Centre (Eltham War Memorial). Officers' reports, 11.113/10 Relocation of Eltham RSL Cenotaph, Nillumbik Shire Council Ordinary Meeting, 21 December 2010 Email Correspondence: EDHS President to NSC General Manager Community and Leisure re RSL Obelisk (Cenotaph) proposed relocation, 24 May 2011 Newsletter Extract: Eltham RSL and War Memorial, EDHS Newsletter 14 Sep 2011 Officers' reports, OCM.091/11 Interim Relocation site for the Eltham Cenotaph, Nillumbik Shire Council Ordinary Meeting, 23 August 2011 Officers' reports, OCM.004/121 Interim Relocation of the Eltham Cenotaph, Nillumbik Shire Council Ordinary Meeting, 31 January 2012 (includes Funding agreement between NSC and Montmorency-Eltham RSL Sub-branch Inc) Newspaper article: Move war memorial: RSL, c.2011 Newspaper article: Memorial move lags, Diamond Valley Leader, 1 February 2012 Newspaper article: New dawn for tribute, Diamond Valley Leader ca April 2012 Open letter to the residents of Eltham and Montmorency and copies of drafts by the Montmorency Eltham RSL, no date and final version published in Diamond Valley New 21 March 2012 and Banyule & Nillumbik Weekly, 27 March, 2012 Newspaper article: RSL site nets $1.8m, Diamond Valley Leader, 9 May 2012 Newspaper article: Memorial Moved, Banyule/Nillumbik Weekly, 10 April 2012 Newspaper article: Eltham cenotaph move goes 'like clockwork', Diamond Valley Leader, 11 April 2012 Advertisement, Program for Eltham Dawn Service, Diamond Valley Leader, April 2012 Newspaper photo: Veterans (l-r) Alan Field, Max Lowerson and John Cohen will join piper David Cretney to commemorate fallen Diggers, 2012 (standing beside relocated obelisk in front of the Eltham War Memorial complex) Program for Montmorency Anzac Day March 2012 (incomplete, some pages duplicated, some pages upside down). Newspaper article: Plan to expand memorial, Diamond Valley Leader, Sep. 2004, p5 Newspaper article: Names renewal, thanks to Barry, Diamond Valley Leader, 18 Apr 2007, p3 with picture featuring Eltham RSL president John Haines and Gwen Rosewall Letter: EDHS President to Manager Community Participation, Learning and Culture, Nillumbik Shire Council regarding a proposal by the Montmorency-Eltham RSL Sub-branch to expand the area occupied by the relocated obelisk further into the Eltham War Memorial Garden of Remembrance, 18 Aug 2014 Notices of Motion, NOM.001/14 pertaining to memorials Advisory Committee and Montmorency-Eltham RSL to upgrade the Eltham War Memorial site in time for ANZAC Day 2015, Nillumbik Shire Council Ordinary Meeting, 26 August 2014 Agenda: User Groups and Stakeholders Meeting, Proposed Extension to Memorial Terrace, 11 September 2014 EDHS presentation to NSC Policy and Services meeting 9 September 2014 regarding the Montmorency-Eltham RSL proposal to expand/upgrade the Eltham War Memorial Policy and Services reports, PSD.034/14 Eltham War Memorial Building Precinct - Proposed Extension to Memorial Terrace, Nillumbik Shire Council Ordinary Meeting, 9 September 2014 Email (copy): President EDHS re Eltham War Memorial Complex, Main Road, Eltham, 15 Sep 2014 requesting Nillumbik Shire Council place a Heritage Overlay upon the Eltham War Memorial Complex Media Release: Support for cenotaph expansion, Nillumbik Shire Council, Sep 2014 Newspaper article: Council defers RSL war memorial upgrade to see consultation, Diamond Valley News, 17 Sep 2014 Letter (copy): Harry Gilham, Eltham to local press and others, 20 Sep 2014 protesting attempts by the RSL to further expand upon the area already ceded from the Eltham War Memorial for the relocated WW1 obelisk and alter the original vision for an Eltham War Memorial complex. Letter: Alan Field, President, The Eltham Veterans War Memorial Preservation Society Inc. to CEO and Councillors, Nillumbik Shire Council protesting at perceived injustices and ‘veteran bashing’ regarding their previous efforts to relocate ‘their Obelisk and Cenotaph’ to the Eltham War Memorial complex and their frustration in their attempts to further expand upon the Memorial Terrace. Areas of letter are highlighted with handwritten markups and notes. Also notes on loose card and paper with definitions of Memorial, Obelisk, Cenotaph, commentary on establishment of Eltham War Memorial, The Eltham War Memorial Trust and RSL involvement and current actions by RSL in respect to claims in the letter (written by Harry Gilham ?). Policy and Services reports, PS.038/14 Eltham War Memorial Building Precinct - proposed extension to the Eltham Cenotaph Terrace, Nillumbik Shire Council Policy and Services Committee Meeting, 14 October 2014 Newspaper article: Centenary dawn service moves to Petrie Park, Diamond Valley Leader, 22 Oct 2014 Newspaper article: Upset over upgrade; war memorial revamp plans get culled, Diamond Valley Leader, 29 Oct 2014 Newspaper article: Memories of our heroes, Diamond Valley Leader, 25 Apr 2018 – also Veteran saluted, featuring article on Army veteran, Glen Ferrarotto. Handwritten notes in pencil (2 pages) by Harry Gilham, Items form the Eltham and Whittlesea Shires The Advertiser newspaper 7 June 1918 - 1919 providing a summary of the formation of the Peace Celebration Committee leading to the establishment of the Avenue of Honour and the Eltham Obeliskeltham cenotaph, nillumbik shire council, eltham war memorial, montmorency eltham rsl sub-branch, dawn service, cenotaph, eltham rsl sub-branch, eltham war memorial trust, garden of remembrance, harry gilham collection, john cohen, obelisk, remembrance garden, shillinglaw trees, german machine gun, war memorial, war trophy

Contents: Minutes of Eltham RSL and Community Meeting held at 29 Nyora Road, Eltham, 23 June 2010 (Community meeting re closure of Eltham RSL sub-branch and relocation of the WW1 Obelisk) Open Letter to the Residents of ELTHAM and MONTMORENCY [And their Surrounding Districts]; 19 March 2012 draft (Invitation to attend the Montomorency Eltham RSL 2012 Anzac Day service at the new site of the Cenotaph in front of the Eltham War Memorial. Includes a brief history of the obelisk and the Eltham War Memorial) Newspaper clipping - Hall 'scruffy' - war vet, Diamond Valley Leader, 17 February 2010, p2 Newspaper clipping - RSL branch has a fight on its hands by Alana Schetzer, Heidelberg & Valley Weekly, 3 August 2010, p7 Newspaper clipping - Locals battle state RSL over building, Diamond Valley Leader, 4 August 2010, p7 Newspaper clipping - New home for cenotaph; Councillors support proposal for relocation to Eltham's War Memorial Hall, Diamond Valley Leader, 12 January 2011 Newspaper clipping - CFA hot for RSL site; MP presses for 'fast-track' purchase, Diamond Valley Leader, 23 february 2011, p1 Newspaper clipping - New home for cenotaph delights war veterans, Diamond Valley Leader, 31 August 2011, p9 Council's Heritage Advisor, Samantha Westbrooke Pty Ltd advised Council in 2014 that the relocation of the cenotaph had compromised the significance of the War Memorial Building Complex as the two memorials, while both commemorating World Wars, demonstrate two very different methods of memorialising. The World War Two War Memorial Building Complex with its civic purpose was a conscious shift away from memorialisation by monuments and a focus on the future and not the past. The cenotaph is an example of the post World War One memorialising practice of erecting monuments to commemorate the past. The location of the cenotaph in front of the former Infant Welfare Centre confuses the history of the site and obscures the ability to view the three buildings as a united complex. Additional subsequent modifications with the provision of access ramps and rails has further impacted upon the garden design. Nine A4 pages printed and six newspaper clippingsalan field, cfa, eltham rsl sub-branch, eltham war memorial hall, eltham war memorial, john cohen, montmorency-eltham rsl sub-branch, obelisk, war memorial garden

Local RSLs will raise funds to help veterans on this centenary of the foundation of the RSL movement in Australia.News clipping, black text, colour image.returned services league, anzac day

2 articles: A former serviceman is driven to help war veterans find work reports and, Appeal keeps volunteers busy. Local RSLs raise funds in the lead up to ANZAC Day.News article 2 pages, black text, colour image.soldiers, war veterans, anzac day

Picture captured outside Greensborough RSL, 2001. shows some 2001 members.Includes some of Sub Branch earliest members.Photo, outside Greensborough RSL, Vietnam Veterans Day, 2001Text list of members in photograph: Vietnam Veterans Day, 2001vietnam, vietnam war, diamond valley vietnam veterans sub branch, long tan day, vietnam veterans day