30 Apr 2021
The grounds of Telopea Park School are home to a unique piece of local history - the Telopea Park School War Memorial, a monument to commemorate former students who served in Word War II.
The Memorial was officially unveiled on 11 September, 1953, on the 30th anniversary of the school’s foundation.
It was funded by the parents and school community of the time, as a way to commemorate more than 43 ex-students of Telopea Park School who died serving in World War II, and acknowledge the ongoing effects of the war on countless more, who were forever changed by the conflict.
The memorial is a small but unique piece of ACT heritage and has become a fixture of the school community. Every year it is used on days of national significance, such as ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day, as part of the school’s ceremonies in honouring those who have served.
Last week, the school held an official unveiling ceremony for a new sign adjacent to the memorial. This project was made possible by a 2020 ACT Heritage Grant, an ACT Government funding program to assist the community in working to conserve and promote the heritage of the ACT.
The sign commemorates the service and sacrifice of the many former students who served in the World War II and highlights the sacrifice of the first former student known to have died in that conflict.
Pilot Officer Eric William Stanton Scott was killed during the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, he was just 20 years old. Eric attended Telopea Park School between 1927 and 1937.
Although the exact number is unknown, hundreds of ACT students are estimated to have served in conflict over the years.
The project was led by school archivist, Esther Davies, who is dedicated to maintaining the memory and raising awareness of the history of Telopea Park School, the ACT’s oldest operating school.