Narrandera Shire Council, in partnership with the Narrandera Aboriginal Elders Liaison Group, officially opened the Wiradjuri Honour Wall at Marie Bashir Park in Narrandera on Saturday.

This event celebrated and honoured the rich cultural heritage and achievements of the Wiradjuri people.

Wiradjuri elder Aunty Jennifer Johnson had the honour of cutting the ribbon to open the Wiradjuri Honour Wall which is engraved with the story of her father who was a Rat of Tobruk.

She said the wall was 20 years in the making and afforded respect to many members of her large family and community.

It replaced a former memorial which had been deteriorating and was found to be unsatisfactory.

Narrandera designer Dean Ingram created the concept for the new wall, which was funded by a $250,000 Federal Government grant and the Narrandera Shire Council.

The front of the wall features the names of families who lived on the outskirts of the town in an area known as the Sandhills before moving into the Narrandera township during the 1970s.

Aunty Jennifer grew up in this community and although her name is not yet written on the wall, she said she was proud to see the stories and names of her family and friends.

Her father Thomas Edward Lyons, her uncle Billy Lyons and her grandfather Thomas “Tiger” Lyons are the three Indigenous soldiers who appear on the back of the wall.

Their photos and a short biography about where they served are a reminder of the many Indigenous Australians who fought in the world wars.

The Wiradjuri Honour Wall serves as a significant tribute to the contributions and history of the Wiradjuri people, one of Australia’s largest Aboriginal groups. This landmark project symbolises respect and recognition for the enduring culture and legacy of the Wiradjuri people within the Narrandera Shire community.

As well as those who served during wartime, the names of a number of successful sportspeople from the shire are etched on the Wall.

These include tennis superstar Evonne Goolagong Cawley, rugby league international and former Manly great Cliff Lyons, Australian footballer Zac Williams and cricketer Daniel Christian.

More names can be added to the Wall each year by people nominating to the Narrandera Aboriginal Elders Liaison Group. 

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 24 October 2024.