A piece of Mernda’s history has been uncovered in Geelong.
An honour board from Mernda State School was found in an antique shop in Geelong by a friend of Lost Mernda Facebook page administrators Neil and Andrea Johnson.
The pair quickly contacted the antique dealer and were told the board had been bought from a signwriter who planned to remove the writing to sell as a menu board. Recognising the honour board’s local significance, the Johnsons contacted Whittlesea council.
The board commemorated the people who fought in World War I and attended Mernda State School.
The council has since bought the board and sent it to the University of Melbourne’s Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation for cleaning and repair.
Mr Johnson said the honour board was very significant, given that Mernda State School was one of the first schools built in the district.
“My great-great-great-grandfather actually donated the land for the school and helped build it … I am looking forward to seeing [the board] on display,” he said.
“It’s quite appropriate for it to come back home to its spiritual home. I am sure there are descendants of some of those people listed who still live in the district.”
Mayor Kris Pavlidis thanked the Johnsons for alerting the council to the board.
“We believe it is so important to protect our rich history and heritage here in the city of Whittlesea, particularly as we are growing and changing at such a rapid rate,” Cr Pavlidis said.
“It’s wonderful to be able to protect items like this that represent our history, especially in this final year of the Anzac Centenary.”
