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Southern Courier: Memorial to Fallen Lifesavers to be created at Coogee Beach

21 March 2014



24 November 2013

Alan Somerville, best known for his bronze sculpture of a WWI Anzac soldier on the Anzac Bridge, has been given the task of creating a memorial to Fallen Lifesavers, honouring Australian lifesavers killed at war.

The memorial, consisting of a bronze sculpture featuring a lifesaver and a soldier, will overlook the southern part of Coogee beach.

Mr Somerville said it was an honour to be chosen as the sculptor.

"It's a wonderful idea to commemorate the fallen lifesavers,'' he said.

"They have been a very important part of the Australian lifestyle.''

There are also future plans for a wall of remembrance listing the names of all fallen Australian lifesavers.

Randwick Mayor Scott Nash said there were more than 20 surf life saving clubs in Australia at the outbreak of World War I.

He said the memorial was a dignified place of reflection to honour fallen lifesavers from around the country.