The new time capsule adds another layer of history to the refurbished landmark.
Historical records indicated that a time capsule had been placed in the cenotaph at the time of its construction almost 100 years ago. It was the original intent of East Gippsland Shire Council and the Bairnsdale RSL Sub-branch to remove the casket from a cavity behind the foundation stone, however on investigation it was found the casket was below the foundation stone and fully encased in concrete. Discussions between Council, the RSL and heritage experts determined not to extract the casket at the risk of damage to the foundation stone and casket.
Mayor Cr Mendy Urie said that while the original time capsule was unable to be removed, it presented an opportunity for Council and the RSL to mark a moment in time – 2020 – with a new time capsule.
“Recent times for East Gippsland have been challenging, with more than four years of drought followed by the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires, and the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. We wanted to take this opportunity to commemorate and acknowledge our community’s resilience as well as paying tribute to our servicemen and women,” Cr Urie said.
The new time capsule has been placed in the space created when the attempt to remove the original time capsule was made.
The casket contains printed and electronic versions of the following documents and items to mark a point in time for the East Gippsland community:
In addition, the following documents and items were included to reflect and pay tribute the original time capsule’s contents:
The new copper casket was constructed by local sculptors, Kate Shone and Daniel Jenkins. Working with a conservator, it was advised to print the documents on thin plastic A5 sheets to ensure their longevity and to fit with the space restrictions of the casket. On Wednesday 2 December, Council and the RSL placed the items into the casket and the casket was sealed.
In the presence of the RSL and Council staff, Cr Urie placed the casket into the cenotaph on Monday, December 7.
Restoration works contractor Cathedral Stone will reinstate the plinth stones to cover both time capsules enabling the restoration works to continue.
“The restoration works ensure that the legacy of past and future servicemen and women continues and allows our community to pay their respects. May we continue to remember the resilience and courage of our servicemen and women, and the resilience of our own community,” Cr Urie said.
The project is jointly funded by Council and the Federal Government, who have contributed $137,000 under the Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program.
Major works are on track to be completed by the end of December with the overall project to be completed by January 2021.