Northam
Situated 97kms.from Perth,Northam is the largest town on the Great Eastern Highway between Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is the administrative cente for an area of 1424 sq.kms.containing a population of 10,500 of which approximately 7000 live in the Town area.The Memorial Hall is situated in the main(Fitzgerald)street and,to the left of the main entrance,bears a plaque "Opened by the Governor General,29th.October,1954 - Built by the Northam Sub Branch of the RSL with the assistance of the Air Force Association" To the right of the entrance is an alcove containing a number of stainless steel plaques,the top four contain ninetytwo names and are headed by the inscription"In Grateful Memory of the Fallen 1914-18" Underneath are four smaller plaques,the three on the left are headed by the inscription "1939-45"and contain fortyone names;the final plaque is headed "Korean War"with one name shown and "Vietnam"with two names.Entrance to the alcove is restricted by a timber bar which carries an inscription in wrought iron "Lest We Forget" To the right of the Hall is a driveway and then a small memorial garden that also fronts on the main street. This garden contains various Honour Boards and Memorial Plaques that,originally, were displayed in buildings that have now been demolished,the Railway Honour Board comprises a copper repousse frame with marble insert on which are mounted six brass tablets containing twohundred&seventy names of which thirtyfour are noted as killed in action,this Honour Board was originally located at the Railway Institute. On the same wall,in a niche to the right is a stainless steel plaque inscribed "Roll Of Honour,Women in the Armed Forces Northam District,1941-45",eightythree names are shown.Further along and facing the entrance to the garden a large granite board with brass tablets is mounted,the top is inscribed "Northam Memorial Hospital,this building was erected in honour of the members of this District who served in the Great War 1914 to 1918,the following made the supreme sacrifice" there are seventysix names shown.Below this are ten brass tablets giving the names of the total Northam District enrolment,twohundred&ninetynine names are shown including six females;nurses. An addition to this Board notes that"it was moved from the old Memorial Hospital site during the building program for the new Northam Hospital 1968-70 and sited in its present position in September,1976".(The Memorial Garden has now been redeveloped,click HERE to see.)One other Memorial in Northam is located within the grounds of the C.Y.O'Connor Technical And Further Education campus,it comprises a small pedestal bearing a metal plaque inscribed"In Recognition Of The Servicemen And Women And Patients Who Served At The 1000 Bed 118th.Australian General(Military) Hospital On This Site From 1941-1946".The Memorial was dedicated by the Mayor of the Town of Northam on October 26th.,1998. In addition to these Memorials there is also one built by Italian Prisoners of War which can be viewed by clicking HERE.
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