Canterbury Bankstown Council fights to save historic club and Diggers ashes
The ashes of World War II servicemen are at stake as Canterbury Bankstown Council fights to save the historic old Hero’s Hill Ex-Servicemen’s club.
Saying it is “a desecration of the site”, a Canterbury Bankstown councillor wants the Hero’s Hill Ex-Servicemen’s Club to be purchased by the NSW Government so that the ashes of several WWII servicemen could be preserved.
This is the main aim of motion passed by the council for the abandoned site on 1, Donovan Drive, Revesby Heights. It is up for sale by a private group who had tried to develop an Islamic centre, but the proposal was rejected by the council.
Councillor Steve Tuntevski, who moved the successful motion at a council meeting in June, said he wanted the site, which was sold to a private group a few years ago, saved, “for the purpose of community use and to preserve the local, historical value of the site”.
He told The Express the government could purchase the site from its $290 million Open Spaces and Greener Sydney funding package released last year.
“It is common knowledge that the ashes of many ex-servicemen, who were provided affordable housing by the government after World War II, are scattered at this site,” Cr Tuntevski said.
“It’s a desecration of the site, particularly when there are stories that some returned soldiers have had their ashes scattered across the site as their final resting place.
“You wouldn’t let a military gravesite to be kept this way, so why is this allowed?
“It’s just insensitive, the former Hero’s Hill Club site’s history is of such significance to the local community that it should be preserved.
“As many locals would know the club was founded after the return of ex-servicemen who obtained affordable government housing and settled in the area after World War II.
“As a local I pass the clubhouse on a regular basis and it saddens me greatly that it’s so badly neglected. The club lays dormant, the grounds are overgrown, the windows are broken and the walls are riddled with graffiti.
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“It’s quite eerie setting, like a scene from a movie.”
Cr Steve Tuntevski said it was disrespectful to the soldiers and their families that the old club house was unwanted and in a sad state.
“As soon as I learnt that the site was for sale, I thought it’s a rare opportunity to buy it, particularly when I heard that the Liberal State Government have programs and set aside $290 million in funds to buy lands such as in this very situation,” he said.
“That’s why I’m asking them to buy it.
“It is also a rare opportunity for the NSW Government to fulfil on its commitments in bolstering public land and community facilities.
“The addition of this site to the public land estate, nestled in remnant bushland, would contribute greatly to the amenity of the community and the city more widely.”
“I understand that the site has been for sale or lease as of June 11.”
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