Tribute to Legacy should be set in stone

DURING the centenary of Anzac, I wonder how many readers have thought about the families who bear the cost of war.

Hobart Legacy remembers that for every servicewoman or man who risks everything, there is a family who risks everything. It’s time to publicly recognise the cost of war to families.

In 2013, the Hobart City Council determined to build a pedestrian bridge to reconnect the Cenotaph to the Soldiers Memorial Avenue under the Queens Domain Master Plan. This is a major initiative to link the private memorials on Soldiers Walk to the public commemorations at the Cenotaph.

In 2015, the Australian Government announced it would provide $8 million from its Anzac Centenary Public Fund for the pedestrian bridge. What is a suitable name, unique to Hobart’s cultural heritage, that acknowledges the Centenary of Anzac?

I commend the Hobart City Council which has consulted stakeholders and the community to determine a suitable name for the bridge.

Unlike past naming of public features, for example, the Brooker Highway, feedback appears to indicate that the name of the bridge should not refer to a particular person, or organisation.

One should not forget the Anzac centenary is far more than a recollection of past events. It is as much about the present and the future. It is about commemorating earlier generations of servicemen and women and honouring those who serve today.

Council consultative officers have indicated that three names are being considered — Rosemary, Peace and Remembrance.

Various memorial structures throughout the country have been built to recognise the supreme sacrifices of our service people from all wars and conflicts. Overlooked in all this expense are the thousands of families, principally the widows and children who have been left to endure a lifetime of misery and hardship from the loss or permanent disablement of their loved ones.

Naming of this important structure is a unique opportunity to finally recognise the “forgotten” families who are the victims of 100 years of war and conflict.

The Legacy movement, the concept of which was created in Hobart in 1923 by Major General Sir John Gellibrand with the formation of what is today Hobart Legacy Inc, has provided advocacy, educational, financial, social and mentoring support for the families of our deceased and permanently incapacitated veterans, continuously for more than 94 years. The name Legacy is synonymous with the voluntary support and caring provided to thousands of families throughout Australia over the past 94 years and this work will continue for years to come. Voluntary support such as that provided by the Legacy movement is squarely in line with the centenary of Anzac and aligns with Hobart’s unique cultural heritage.

For several years, Legacy has received unanimous support from federal and state politicians from all political persuasions, local government and government officers to recognise the name Legacy on a project of significance as a fitting tribute to the families who have done so much to help rebuild this fine country and endure so much without their loved ones.

Let us have a special name, a unique name, something that acknowledges the families who go on risking everything for us and something that recognises the unique place of Hobart where the Legacy movement started.

I strongly urge the public to support naming this bridge Legacy Link or Legacy Walkway, or similar, as a tribute to the left-behind families to link them with the Cenotaph and the Soldiers Memorial Avenue.