ON Wednesday this week the Dorrigo Plinth soldier was remounted with many locals attending the historic event.

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Locals may remember the war memorial – a six metre high statue of a WWI soldier that has kept watch over the town for 98 years, was struck last year in May.

State Government ministers and the NSW Branch of the RSL worked hard to deliver on their promise to have the monument restored in time for Anzac Day 2021.

Bob Denner, Secretary of the Dorrigo RSL Sub Branch was delighted that the soldier was re-mounted on the plinth in the new roundabout on Waterfall Way on the morning of February 3.

Georgia Frogley, President of the Dorrigo Historical Society put a callout to locals to line the streets and bring hats, chairs and friends as the town’s residents watched their soldier be returned to looking over the town from its central location.

“Well done Bellingen Shire Council Assets Manager Oliver Baumann for coordinating this with Bob Denner and members of the Sub Branch,” she said.

She added, “Names of the soldiers from Dorrigo and district who made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ will be added when the monumental mason completes his work in readiness for ANZAC Day this year.”

The Historical Society had another task successfully ticked off their to-do list, which was to increase their membership to one hundred.

Ms Frogley told News Of The Area, “Our ‘monumental task’ was to get one hundred new members of our Dorrigo Historical Society by ANZAC Day 2021 to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of when the soldier was first erected by and on behalf of the citizens of Dorrigo.

“Thanks to the efforts of many we achieved that on Christmas Eve 2020,” Ms Frogley said.

By Sandra MOON