My complaint:
To all Central Coast Council members,
The Copacabana community has existed on community spirit for as long as I can remember. However recently the local Anzac Day Service was handed over to the RSL.
Firstly, during the ceremony on ANZAC day, the lack of acknowledgement of the Copacabana’s Naval War Memorial made me furious.
My father, Robert Clancy, is 89 years old and he was honoured when his name was inscribed on that memorial as a long-standing member of Copacabana. He had three uncles who served in WWII and he is very proud of their service and acknowledges them with a collage of their photos along with their medals in a frame.
Our Anzac Day Service is usually organised by our own community members – not people from as far away as Davistown and Terrigal.
I have never before had a history lesson read out on the Battle of the Coral Sea. I feel it detracted from the spirit and purpose of remembering the Anzacs and their lasting legacy.
The MC talked about children being left fatherless because their dads didn’t come back from war. He failed to mention that women were also killed in war. Many wives, mothers’, sisters’, aunties and friends gave their lives as well.
Central Coast Council on 26 April 2023, attached a seven-day Notice to Owner sticker for removal of the Navy Veterans’ Association Temporary Memorial located on Council’s reserve at Copacabana.
I’d like to point out to the council that the said Memorial does not belong to the Navy Veterans’ Association; it actually belongs to the Copacabana community and is named as such “COPACABANA NAVAL MEMORIAL” and registered with NSW War Memorial Register as an official War Memorial.
I believe defacing this memorial with a sticker is a gross misuse of power and an absolute disgrace. The council employee who placed the sticker took a photo of the sticker and left, neglecting to sign their name or write who authorised this.
The wording on the sticker stated, The item must be removed within 7 days from 26/4/23. Failure to remove the vehicle will result in Council taking possession of the item and destroying it.
Not only is this not applicable because a memorial is not a vehicle but it is absolutely disgusting that the Council would threaten to destroy a Registered Memorial.
Yours sincerely,
Deborah Kendrick, and Robert Clancy
43811590
20 Del Mar Drive
Copacabana
Suggested solution:
Public statement and written apology for their gross misuse of power
