City landmark falls to start $29.5 mil project

By Tim Howard

A Grafton landmark has disappeared in the past week, but it’s proof that a much awaited facility is on target for a December 2024 opening.

The Grafton Memorial Pool waterslide which dominated the landscaping of the pool grounds for decades has come down and heavy machinery has begun tearing up the pool structures and surrounding ground to begin stage one of the $29.5 million project

The head contractor, Bathurst firm Hines Constructions Pty Ltd, has promised Clarence Valley Council it will complete stage 1 of the project, known as the Regional Aquatic Centre, by December 2024.

The first stage will include the indoor facility, which includes two 25 metre pools.

The 50m outdoor pool will be part of Stage 2 of the project

The start of construction will rule out any use of the Grafton Pool site over the summer.

Heavy machiney at work beginning to demolish the pools as part of stage 1 of the Regional Aquatic Project.

In 2022-23, despite the closure of the pool, the water slide was opened at selected times.

The pool has a close connection to the Grafton community

It’s origins go back to December 11, 1943, when 13 Cub Scouts drowned in the Clarence River returning from a picnic on Susan Island.

Findings from the tragedy revealed most of the boys had not learned to swim and the community resolved to raise funds to build a pool so children could learn to swim at an early age.

The name Grafton Memorial Pool was a reference to the boys that died on that day almost 80 years ago.

After fundraising, construction of the pool began in 1954 and it opened in 1956, the year of the Melbourne Olympics.

In the pool’s first year of operation it was visited by a touring squad of Olympic swimmers which included Sport Australia Hall of Famer, Jon Henricks.

During the visit Henricks competed in the 50m freestyle at a club event which he won in 25.60 seconds before going on to Melbourne to become Australia’s first ever Olympic 100m freestyle champion and set a new world record.

Bathurst builder Hines Constructions won the contract for the $29.5 million build of the Regional Aquatic Facility.

Henricks’ record, which stood for 60 years as the fastest 50m in the Grafton Olympic Pool, was beaten in 2016 by local swimmer Charlie Steele in a time of 25.11 seconds.

Over the years the addition of the waterslide and diving pool turned the facility into a regional attraction which brought visitors to the city.

But the past decade revealed issues at the pool, which included a massive water leak.

It is believed the water escaping from the pool into the ground around it has created a sinkhole responsible for the structural instability which forced the council to close the pool ahead of the 2022-23 swimming season.

The council had developed a shovel-ready plan for the Regional Aquatic Centre, which has been used for the current project.

Future stages will include the 50m outdoor pool and two waterslide.

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Remembrance Day back to its best

By Tim Howard

Grafton’s Memorial Park was back to its beautiful if slightly remodelled best to commemorate Remembrance Day on Saturday.

The annual service on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month honours the hour hostilities ceased on the Western Front in 1918, ending the four years of carnage that was World War 1.

For more than two years, the park had been a construction site for the Grafton Waterfront Precinct, which opened in July.

The Grafton Show party lay their wreath on the Grafton Cenotaph during the Remembrance Day service in Memorial Park on Saturday.

While the park and cenotaph remained as the venue for the annual Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services, construction restricted the space for people to gather.

On Saturday the park was back to its best, with recent rain greening the grass and the sun shining.

Marquees had been erected to shelter people from the sun and a good crowd attended for the Remembrance Day service and the service soon after to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the construction and opening of the cenotaph.

Student leaders from Clarence Valley Anglican School carry a wreath to the Grafton Cenotaph during Saturday’s Remembrance Day Service.

Grafton RSL Sub-Branch secretary Denis Benfield, said it was good to have the park back at its best.

“The council did a great job for us during the construction stage,” he said.

“They were always able to get it ready for us for Anzac Days, Remembrance or Vietnam Veterans services, even when it didn’t look like it could be possible.

The contingent of veterans marches proudly from the parade ground at the conclusion of the 2023 Grafton Remembrance Day Service in Memorial Park on Saturday.

Mr Benfield said thank Grafton Midday Rotary for their generosity in providing marquees for the people who attended.

“With the sun coming out today it was good to have somewhere for people to be under cover because we had the two services today, one after the other,” he said.

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Ceremony vital to renew memory of sacrifice

By Tim Howard

Re-dedicating the Grafton Cenotaph 100 years to the day after its original dedication plays a vital role in keeping alive the memory and ideals of those who made the supreme sacrifice in current and future generations.

The secretary of the Grafton RSL sub-Branch, Denis Benfield, said the service in Grafton’s Memorial Park on Saturday, immediately after the Remembrance Day service was an important event.

Mr Benfield said the cenotaph deserved to maintain its place as a shrine to servicemen and women who gave their lives for their country.

“It’s a 100 years old and still has great significance for the community,” he said.

“You could see by the people that turned up here today it means a lot to them.

“Re-dedicating the cenotaph renews that spirit and builds up the significance for the young people.

“We have to keep young people involved so they can renew those ideals Into the future.”

Chaplain Kevin Booth of 41st Battalion consecrates a section of the Remembrance Walk in Memorial Park during the re-dedication of the Grafton Cenotaph on Saturday.

Mr Benfield said much of the credit for the planning of the re-dedication service should go to Clarence River Historical Society president Steve Tranter.

Mr Tranter said the society kept a record of anniversaries in the Clarence as they occurred and looked for ones of major significance.

“There were two that stood out this years,” he said. “The anniversary of the dedication of Grafton Cenotaph and the 80 anniversary of the Scouts who drowned in the Clarence River.

“I had discussions with the Mayor at the time, Ian Tiley, and we began to plan for this event and a service for the Scouts memorial in December.”

There were speeches from the dignitaries attending: Member for Clarence Richie Williamson, Member for Page Kevin Hogan, Clarence Valley Mayor Peter Johnstone, the CO 41st Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Healy, the grandson of Sir Earle Page, David Page and caption of Clarence Valley Anglican School Geoge Ryan.

A speech from Dr Honor Auchinleck, a descendant of General Sir Henry (Harry) Chauvel, who lived at Tabulam, was also read to the attendees.

Grafton RSL sub branch president Leith Basset and secretary Denis Benfield, with Clarence River Historical Society presidnet Steve Tranter after the ceremony to comemmorate the 100th anniversary of the Grafton Cenotaph.

In Cr Johnstone’s welcoming address he reminded his audience that councils 100 years ago moved no faster than today, pointing out that Mayor McFarlane first mooted the idea of a cenotaph in 1917, but little progress was made for five years.

Cr Johnstone also recalled former Mayor Shirley Adams, working with Grafton RSL sub-branch president Brian Bultitude, had been instrumental in building the Remembrance Walk in the park.

Mr Williamson said the service such as this reminded him that every day he “cashed a cheque written by people who went before me.”

“When the Anzacs hit the beach at Gallipoli it set the moral compass of our nation,” he said.

“It’s up to us now to keep our moral compass pointing in the right direction.”

Mr Hogan took people’s minds back to the scene on November 11, 1923 when the mothers of the 35 soldiers who gave their lives and whose names were etched onto the cenotaph dedicated the original monument.

He said there would have been tremendous grief among the people there because those men were sons, brothers, fathers, uncles and friends to most of the people there.

Grafton RSL sub branch member Graham Jackson, sub branch president Leith Bassett, secretary Denis Benfield with 41st Battalion CO Lt Col Daniel Healy, RSM Michael Dowling and Priv Graeme Bray.

“But there would also have been sense of pride in what those young men had achieved with their sacrifice,” he said.

Mr Hogan said the primary reason for re-dedicating this monument was to ensure those memories  were never lost.

Col Healy’s address recalled the life and career of Major Genera Arthur Samuel “Tubby” Allen, whose service to the army during both World Wars was legendary.

Mr Page paid tribute to his grand father, who volunteered as an army surgeon and served in England and in battlefield hospitals on the Western Front.

Mr Page said his grand father was particularly proud of his brother, Harold, who began the war as a private and finished it ranked as a major.

He was wounded three times and capture once by the Germans, but escaped.

Mr Page said his brother’s legacy was one fo the reasons Sir Earle was behind the cenotaph project.

He said Sir Earle Page returned after the war determined to get into politics and get to work on projects, like the Nymboida Hydro Electric Power Station.

“He became the Member for Cowper and did everything he could to clear the way for the cenotaph to go ahead,” he said.

Australia Army bugler Lance Corporal Chris Channing – a former local – plays Lhe Last Post during the re-dedication ceremony of the Grafton Cenotaph on Saturday.

After the speeches, the Bishop of Grafton the Rev Murray Harvey, Chaplain 41t Battalion Kevin Booth and Canon Camellia Flanagan dedicated the memorial, scattering Holy Water onto the monuments from sprigs of rosemary.

After the service 41st Battalion historian Private Graeme Bray revealed impatience at the delays in getting the cenotaph build led to some subversive action.

He said that after the Remembrance Day ceremony in 1920, some former soldiers had listened to all the fine speeches, then attended a lunch, where they may have had a few beers.

“The second in command of 41st battalion at the time, Major Ferguson was upset at the council not doing anything and made a speech that go everyone going,” Priv Bray said.

The men hauled a captured German artillery field gun from where it stood in Bacon St to the council chamber and aimed it at the front doors as a symbolic gesture.

“I don’t think it did much good,” Priv Bray said. “It took another three years before anything happened and ironically in that time, the ringleader of the protest, Major Ferguson died.

“So he never got to see the cenotaph finished.”

Mr Benfield said he was pleased with the success of this dedication, but said it would not be the last.

“We have the centenary of the South Grafton Cenotaph next year,” he said.

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