News Updates – Newcastle Civic Park War Memorial Grove

2021 Service

2017 Remembrance Day

The Memorial Grove in Civic Park is sacred to the memory of many killed in war. This year Don McHattie, who died recently, was honoured. His presence remains in the beautiful eagle sculpture which is the centrepiece in the grove. Don carved it in the 60's in his back yard at Bar Beach. Don was the holder of the George Medal for bravery.

2017 Service

More than 200 people took part in the 2017 Sunset Candle Lighting ceremony in the Memorial Grove, Civic Park, on Anzac Eve.

After candles had been lit among the memorial plaques embedded around the gardens, students from the Hunter School of Performing Arts Cappella Ensemble performed some contemplative songs. Another student, Callum Barnes, played the role of Driver Jack Grothen, in a tableau along with fellow students Charlotte Boulos, who was the narrator and Sian Filipo, a dancer. Jack's plaque is among the 70 names remembered in the grove.

Bugler Fletcher Haigh, also from the school, played the Last Post and Reveille and Rev. Vincent Wall from the Baptist Tabernacle offered prayers of remembrance and peace.

Rededicated

Four plaques, formerly missing from the Newcastle Civic Park Memorial Grove, were rededicated during a special ceremony in August 2016.

The plaques were in memory of three Australians killed in action in Europe in World War 2 - Flight Sergeant Mathew Lovell Thompson item3a (February 1944) Flying Officer Frank Moss (December 1943) and Private Thomas Ramsay (November 1942). The fourth plaque is in memory of Warrant Officer F. J. Sheriff MBE, who died on 1962.The Memorial Grove's Preservation Group spokesman, Gerry Bailey, said the special service was arranged to dedicate the plaques and the new flagpole and the recently planted Newcastle Legacy Tree.

Veterans, representatives of Newcastle City Council and Newcastle Legacy joined the Preservation Group members to honour those who served Australia during war.