Image Caption: Mayor Gangemi pictured with the President of the Castle Hill and District RSL sub-Branch Cheryl Hill and sub-Branch committee members.
A life-sized steel soldier silhouette and plaque are now on display outside Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre in Baulkham Hills.
The permanent two-metre installation is an interpretive tribute to the dedication and sacrifice of current and past servicemen and women.
It also acknowledges the former pool's history as a war memorial when it was originally called 'The Shire of Baulkham Hills War Memorial Swimming Centre.'
"We are proud to announce that the new feature can be viewed by the community, just in time for ANZAC Day. We believe that this tribute will be well-received by everyone," Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Peter Gangemi said.
"As a community, we owe a debt of gratitude to our brave servicemen and women who have sacrificed so much for our nation. That is why we have paid tribute to their incredible service in this way.
"I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Castle Hill and District RSL sub-Branch for their invaluable contribution in helping Council bring this project to fruition."
President of the Castle Hill and District RSL sub-branch, Cheryl Hill said she is thrilled with Council's decision to acknowledge the former war memorial pool and recognise the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving in our country's defence forces.
"Castle Hill and District RSL sub-Branch is pleased that Council have designed and erected this silhouette and plaque, in consultation with the sub-Branch, to acknowledge the old war memorial pool and to recognise those in the Navy, Army, Air Force and Merchant Navy who have served or are serving in the defence of our country," Mrs Hill said.
The pool, located in Baulkham Hills, was opened on 16 March 1965, during a time when it was common for local pools to be registered as a 'war memorial' to honour those who served in WWI and WWII. The centre's operator later rebranded the pool to 'Waves' in 1996.
The centre was then revitalised over a two-year period from 2020 to 2022 and re-opened to the community as 'Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre' on 3 September 2022.
