The banners are being put up in the lead up to Anzac Day. Photo: Supplied.
Leeton Shire’s ‘Men and Women of Leeton: Saluting Their Service’ street banners will once again be displayed along main roads in time for Anzac Day, to pay tribute to local service personnel.
The banners, which were also on display on Remembrance Day in 2024, will honour those with connections to Leeton Shire who have served in Australia’s military forces.
All contributions to the project, including historical photographs and information, will be preserved by the Leeton Family and Local History Society to ensure a lasting community archive.
A future extension of the project will see artwork and photos that were not suitable for banners displayed on the Leeton Water Tower.
Leeton Council events officer Fran Macdonald said this year’s Anzac Day would be particularly significant, as the daughter of Captain Edward Winchester Levings — who features in the first set of banners — would be traveling from New Zealand to commemorate the day in Leeton.
“Having never met her father, who passed before she was born, her visit highlights the personal and emotional connections this project fosters, ensuring the stories of Leeton’s service personnel are remembered and honoured,” she said.
Captain Levings was awarded the O.B.E. (Order British Empire) for his work among prisoners of war, after his capture in North Africa in April 1941.
The Murrumbidgee Irrigator newspaper recorded his achievements on Friday 21 December, 1945.
“For four months, with the assistance of members of 2/8th Field Ambulance, he worked self-sacrificingly under most difficult and dangerous conditions,” an article stated.
“Notwithstanding the fact that there was no equipment, an acute shortage of medical supplies and little co-operation from Italians, this officer performed many intricate operations and was undoubtedly responsible for saving many British lives.”
Captain Levings was discharged from the army on 18 September 1945 and subsequently died from a heart attack on his way to attend to a patient on 17 May 1947 at Pambula, NSW.
The ‘Saluting their Service’ project has been met with overwhelming support from the community, with families expressing gratitude for the recognition of their loved ones’ service.
Residents and visitors alike have praised the banners as a powerful and moving tribute, reinforcing the importance of honouring Leeton’s military history in such a visible and meaningful way.
“While the project has made great progress, there are still a few challenges to navigate before it is fully completed,” Leeton Council said in a statement.
“Seven banners remain to be filled, and not all 40 banners can be displayed at once due to a current shortage of street banner poles. Council is working on a plan to expand the number of poles, with installation scheduled for the next financial year.”
Another unexpected hurdle has been the closure of the original banner supplier, requiring the project team to find an alternative supplier who can deliver within the constraints of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Saluting Their Service grant funding.
Despite these delays, work is ongoing, and the final 14 faces are being confirmed. While these banners won’t be ready for Anzac Day, they will be completed in time to display for this year’s Remembrance Day.
For more information or to make a contribution, please contact Leeton Shire Council by emailing [email protected] or seeing events officer Fran Macdonald in the Leeton Shire Council offices (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri before 2:30 pm).
