Veterans blast Hills Council after removal of war memorial from pool

Hills Shire Council is facing a battle with locals after scrubbing a reference to ‘war memorial’ in the name of a new $55 million pool.

Hills Shire Council is facing a battle with locals after scrubbing a reference to ‘war memorial’ in the name of a new $55 million pool.

Vietnam veterans Phillip Evenden and Jim Wilson, as well as Veterans Affairs Minister David Elliott and opposition veterans affairs spokesman Greg Warren have all called on the council to reconsider the decision to change the name of the War Memorial Swimming Centre at Baulkham Hills.

But the council argues that everybody knows the centre as Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre, with one council source saying that the full war memorial name is “a lot to say on the phone”.

Stanhope Gardens man Philip Evenden, who served in Vietnam as a private from 1967-68, said he’s “bitterly disappointed”.

Vietnam veterans Jim Wilson (left) and Phil Evender. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“It seems to be symptomatic of politics that loyalty is a one-way street,” the 76-year-old, who was a user of the old pool before it was demolished, said.

“A memorial should be something that is perpetual.

“Just because there is not a popular war running at the moment, it seems they do not want to maintain the remembrance.”

Mr Elliott, a former peacekeeper, said “setting aside the local expectation that this facility continues as a War Memorial Pool, the mayor has a moral obligation not to ignore the service of our veterans”.

He said the removal of the name was brought to his attention Friday – two weeks before its September 3 opening.

Veterans Affairs Minister David Elliott.

“Local veterans shouldn’t be forced to patrol every war memorial to make sure councils aren’t desecrating them,” he said.

Mr Warren, a veteran himself, described the situation as “bloody ludicrous”.

The pool was built in 1967 and has an entry on the NSW War Memorials Register.

On Friday the Department of Veterans Affairs had contacted the council to check whether the name was still attached to the centre.

The Hills Shire Council’s general manager, Michael Edgar, said that people have known the pool as ‘Waves’ since 1996, and the name is instantly recognisable within the community.

“Feasibility studies began in 2017 and the project involved at least three stages of community consultation until the first sod was turned in August 2020,” he said.

The opening of the Baulkham Hills Memorial Swimming Poll on March 11, 1967. Photo Courtesy of The Hills District Historical Society collection.

“That consultation included the entire Hills community, residents, councillors, local members of parliament and key user groups, and naming the complex ‘Waves’ has never been raised as an issue during that time.

“We are a council that will always be grateful for the contribution of our service men and women.”

Mr Edgar said a historical reference will be incorporated into the new complex and “the original opening plaque will be displayed”.

“Council recognises the significance of the site and its history will always be part of the story,” he said.

Mayor Peter Gamgemi did not respond to requests for comment.