The new memorial obelisk at Piallaway Hall will be officially dedicated, with some formal tributes provided by the 12/16 Hunter River Lancers, a combined band, local federal MP Barnaby Joyce, and a contingent of family members.

According to local Susan Sims, the memorial obelisk was important to the district because it acknowledged service by local men and women in both world wars. 

And a number of stories surround some of those long-lost soldiers.

One poignant account tells of two local boys who were at the Battle of Lone Pine (Gallipoli, August 1915).

Apparently they’d made a pact to find each other after they went “over the top” – one boy came home, but due to the incredible losses he never found anyone who knew for sure what had happened to his mate.

“Both their names are on our new obelisk,” Ms Sims said.

The dedication ceremony is open to the public and people are encouraged to lay a wreath.

It follows a formal unveiling ceremony on Anzac Day that was so successful, they decided to have a re-run with a formal dedication.

The monument has come by way of a federal government grant under the Gallipoli landings centenary program.

Chairman of the Piallaway Hall committee, Tony Sims, treasurer Keith Mutton, and Ian Little, who now lives on the property Allanbank, previously the home of one of the Anzac veterans, have been behind the establishment of the monument to make the names of those from the Piallaway district who served in the Australian armed forces more accessible to the public. 

Mr Little said for many years two honour rolls were displayed in the hall – but they were only able to be viewed when the hall was open, and so public access was limited.