Long lost World War-I Honour Roll Plaque re-fabricated in Holroyd

Cunneen Signs of Holroyd, NSW near Parramatta, has re-fabricated a missing Honour Roll Plaque of World War-I Australian soldiers. Cunneen Signs’ Ben Wilmshurst, Ian and Dorothy Vallentine, who are relatives of war veterans named on the honour rolls, and war veterans Mike Askey & John Holford, unveiled the replacement plaque of honour at Turramurra Memorial Park. In July 2024, one of the World War–I honour rolls at the Turramurra War Memorial Park, Sydney, was stolen. Turramurra is about 23km north of Sydney CBD.

When the original honour roll was produced almost 100 years ago, a hand cut woodblock master pattern would have been made to create the sand mould used for the casting process. In order to ensure accurate replication of the original font as closely as possible, a custom-drawn font was created from the lettering style on the remaining honour roll. From these drawings the new pattern lettering was cut and hand assembled to make a master casting pattern.  Overseen by Cuneen Project Manager, Gerard Wheelan, this older style, labour intensive type of pattern ensured that the new casting would match the original manufacturing process as closely as possible. (PHOTO: WFO)