IT IS anticipated a local WWII hero will be honoured with the upgrade of a Wagga street sign in time for the Anzac centenary next year.
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Wagga City Council resolved on November 10 to revoke a resolution carried on September 29 that sought support for the renaming of Edmondson Street to Edmondson VC Street and considered lodging a motion to Local Government NSW about the NSW Road Naming Policy of the Geographical Names Board (GNB) to recognise a local Victoria Cross recipient.
Councillors unanimously voted in September to rename the street in honour of Wagga-born hero John (Jack) Edmondson, who was awarded the first Victoria Cross of WWII.
At their next policy and strategy meeting earlier this month, councillors overcame GNB's restrictions by revoking their previous motion and resolved to add the words Corporal John Edmondson VC and the Victoria Cross emblem underneath the existing street name.
Council allocated $2000 for the installation of two new street signs and an interpretive plaque to be located in proximity to the existing road sign outlining Corporal Edmondson's achievements.
Councillor Paul Funnell, the driving force behind the initiative, said the resolution was supported by every councillor.
"I think it gives people (recognition) who paid the ultimate sacrifice," Cr Funnell said
"When it came up (about February), I door-knocked the streets and it was unanimous everyone had no idea (who he was).
"The problem is we don't know our history."
Cr Funnell hopes the project will be completed by April 25, 2015 for the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli.
Corporal Edmondson fought in the 2/17th Battalion in North Africa and died on April 13, 1941 saving the life of his commanding officer.