General News
13 March, 2024
Anzac Park curator recognised
A plaque has been unveiled to recognise the service of Bill Shorter as curator of Anzac Park in Warracknabeal.
A plaque has been unveiled to recognise the service of Bill Shorter as curator of Anzac Park in Warracknabeal.
Mr Shorter was curator from 1921 to 1943.
His appointment came after a committee of management was formed in 1919 with the intention of making over the neglected recreation reserve of Werrigar Park.
The committee wanted to create a fitting memorial to commemorate those who lost their lives in World War I.
The curator of the botanical gardens in Melbourne, John Cronin, inspected the park in 1920 and gave the committee advice on how to plan the park surrounds, including garden landscaping and which plants and trees would be suitable.
The following year Mr Shorter was appointed curator and groundsman.
Then in his mid-30s Mr Shorter had fought with the British forces on the Western Front during the war.
After his discharge, he and his wife Alice had made the decision to move to Australia.
Mrs Shorter's older sister Mary and her husband were living in Warracknabeal so the couple also moved to the region.
Mr Shorter retired as curator in 1943.
He was 78 when he died in 1962, while Mrs Shorter died at 83 in 1968.