Macedon Ranges council has rejected accusations of Anzac Day hypocrisy and defended its decision to quash plans for a federally funded World War I memorial in Romsey.
Disgruntled members of the Romsey Gallipoli Centenary Group said they were frustrated to see councillors laying wreaths at last week’s services after the councillors had knocked back, for a second time, a proposal for a monument outside the town’s Mechanics Institute.
‘‘The hypocrisy is saddening,’’ spokeswoman Vanessa Meredith said. ‘‘The returned servicemen from this township deserve recognition.’’
The proposed memorial incorporated a sphinx on a plinth guarding a replica Romsey tribute medallion surrounded by roses. The medallions were handed out to returned servicemen by the former Shire of Romsey after World War I.
Plans were first rejected by the council in August last year due to concerns about the suitability of a sphinx to represent the Gallipoli conflict and the low durability of the chosen material. A notice of motion outlined terms on which the council would reconsider the proposal, including specific community consultation requirements.
The proposal was denied approval a second time in late March, with the council saying unanimous community support had not been demonstrated.
The centenary group criticised the council’s adoption of a memorials policy in July, 2014, more than a year after it expressed an interest in constructing the memorial.
But council community wellbeing director Karen Stevens said advice to the group had been consistent throughout the process.
‘‘The introduction of the policy did not significantly change the issues raised with the group,’’ she said. ‘‘Over the past two years, council has frequently met with the group and sent correspondence providing support and advice on how to interpret the policy criteria while it prepared its submission.’’
