Rome wasn’t built in a day, the Telethon House takes several months, and The Block contestants are going to take 10 weeks evidently, meanwhile …
Back in 1916 work began on Anzac Cottage on February 12th and was completed in a day … a day!!!
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© The Ponder Room
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Two hundred members of the Mount Hawthorn Progress Association and community volunteers banded together to build the house in recognition of the men and women who fought in World War One.
It’s been said that at 3.30am they began laying the foundation and by 8.00am some one hundred men were at work, while being watched by 4,000 people.
Once completed the home was offered to the first local soldier returning from Gallipoli. That honour fell to Private John Cuthbert Porter and his family after he returned home wounded. As part of his tenancy he would raise the flag every Anzac Day at 4.30am to mark the Gallipoli landing of the West Australian 11th Battallion.
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© The Ponder Room
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Later in 1992 the current owners, the Vietnam Veterans Association, began restoring the cottage, with the help of Lotteries West, Dept. of Vet Affairs, Dept. of Conservation and Heritage and the local residents of Kalgoorlie Street. Restoration was completed in 2002.
Anzac 2012 …
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© The Ponder Room
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… the sounds of giggling children returned to the cottage. The children gathered to sit around long tables in the backyard making wreaths, before joining in a sunset ceremony around the flagpole.
I was left pondering …
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How wonderful it was to see heritage not only being preserved, but enjoyed by the next generations.
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What a brilliant example of the VVAs motto of ‘Vietnam Veterans, once victims now achievers.’
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With a hallway running the length of the house, only three rooms, a kitchen and outhouse I couldn’t help ponder the energy efficiency of the home.
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Situated in the heart of suburbia my eyes misted over a little pondering the community who first built the cottage, and how it continues to be cherished by each local community that moves through this area.
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As one of the display photographs said ‘a community effort that should stand as an inspiration to all.’
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Lest we forget.
4 Comments
We went to our local Dawn Service (in a smallish country town) and it was run beautifully by Vietnam Vets. Time heals many wounds (but I am sure not all of them).
I love the story of this little cottage and the community who built it. Thank you.
This is such a thoughtful piece, and I enjoyed pondering along with you too. Houses are so evocative of a time, and the people who once lived in them. Keep up the interesting posts!
Farmers Wife congrats on getting up early and making it to the service, i keep tryig but still havent made it yet. Well said about time. Many thanks for your nice comments. Yes I was thrilled that the local community tradition continues on. Hope life is treating you well
thanks heaps Johanna. Wandering through had me pondering about the life they lived.