Now, Warrnambool’s Christ Church is set to channel the commemorations of the four-year conflict into a fund-raising drive for an important memorial to the city’s war dead. 

The Anglican church’s war tablet, located on the northern side of its altar, is in need of repair following decades of wear and tear. 

Parish priest Scott Lowery said the overall repair work to the 1920s mosaic is set to cost $45,000 with donations from the community necessary for its restoration.

“With our city being located so close to the ocean, historical pieces like this become damaged over time due to the sea air,” he said. 

“Even though it’s located indoors, the tablet has been left untouched for nearly a century. Now is the right time to set about repair work given the Gallipoli centennial this year and other commemorations for World War I.”

Family names inscribed on the plaque include Cathcart, Fleetwood, Hammond, Hetherington, Henderson, Jenkins, Lovell, McDonald, McGennan, Morse, Parr, Parsons, Phillpot and Proctor, among others.

Father Lowery said a poultice would be applied to the mosaic to cleanse the tablet before surface restoration could begin.

“There is quite a bit of work involved and when you examine the tablet, there are quite a few sections which are damaged,” he said.

Inquiries and donations can be made through the Anglican Warrnambool parish office on 5561 1687.