Albury RSL sub-Branch president Graham Docksey says the evening Anzac Day service to celebrate The Monument’s 100th anniversary is an event not to be missed. Photo: Supplied.
It stands proudly atop Albury’s Monument Hill.
An enduring and iconic landmark built in 1925 to honour the soldiers of World War I – a revered place of reflection, ceremony and identity for generations of local residents and visitors from across the country.
And as the sun sets on Anzac Day celebrations this Friday 25 April, the Albury War Memorial will mark a centenary of remembrance, community pride and historical significance with an evening service from 7:30 pm.
The Monument, as it’s widely known, is an impressive 100-foot structure that has come to represent the legacy of all those who served, and the strength and unity of the community, said Albury RSL sub-Branch president Graham Docksey.
He said this centenary service was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion that should not be missed.
As part of proceedings, the lights illuminating the memorial – traditionally never turned off – will be momentarily extinguished while a piper plays a lament and The Last Post echoes across the night sky.
It will be a powerful and poignant moment, according to Mr Docksey.
“This is not a typical memorial,” he said.
“The structure itself is stark white in colour and holds a commanding position (chosen deliberately) standing atop Monument Hill. It is a place that makes you stop, reflect and think.”
The official service will include speeches from representatives of the Albury RSL sub-Branch and Albury and District Historical Society, and from Albury mayor Kevin Mack, descendants of builder Thomas Bartleson and General John Jackson Paine – who officially unveiled the memorial on 25 April 1925 – and Albury Town Band bandmaster Jack Jarvie.
“The Monument is more than just a structure; it’s a symbol of our collective memory,” Cr Mack says.
“For 100 years it has stood as a reminder of sacrifice, resilience and peace. This is a time to honour the past while looking to the future.”
The Monument – the first floodlit memorial in Australia – has undergone careful preservation in recent years, with a $1.35 million refurbishment project that included enhancements to lighting, roadways, landscaping and recognition signage.
One of Albury’s most visited destinations, it holds a special place for the RSL with annual Anzac Day ceremonies held at the base of the memorial, surrounded by bushland and myriad wildflowers.
Mr Docksey, who served in the Army for 46 years, played an integral role in researching and fact-checking details for the interpretive panels that adorn each of the 17 alcoves, acknowledging all the wars Australians have served in.
Two final plaques representing all the men and women who were prisoners of war will be officially unveiled at this year’s 10 am Anzac Day service.
The annual Anzac Day celebrations at Albury will once again be a long and hectic day for Mr Docksey, who will be up at 3:30 am to prepare for the dawn service, then attend the 9 am march and 10 am morning service at The Monument and several engagements at clubs across the city.
“By 3 pm I’m buggered,” he said.
“But this year I’m really looking forward to the 7:30 pm service to mark the 100th anniversary of the war memorial.
“It’s a quiet, reserved setting and I think it will be a particularly symbolic occasion.”
Members of the public are encouraged to attend and share in this historic occasion. More information and the full program of events are available on the AlburyCity website.
