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Memorial plans progress

Ashwini SaseedaranSound Telegraph
Rockingham RSL president Ian Brook, Premier Mark McGowan and Lovell Jewellers owner Martin Lovell, front, show their support for the Posik family - mother Erin Posik and daughter Jacinta, 15.
Camera IconRockingham RSL president Ian Brook, Premier Mark McGowan and Lovell Jewellers owner Martin Lovell, front, show their support for the Posik family - mother Erin Posik and daughter Jacinta, 15. Credit: Picture: Ashwini Saseedaran.

Reconstruction of a memorial at the site of a windmill where the bloody battle of Pozieres took place in France in World War I is a step closer thanks to a Rockingham family.

The Posik family, descendants of soldiers who fought at the Battle of Pozieres, visited the site in 2016 for the 100th anniversary of the battle, where they helped erect about 7000 crosses to mark the occasion.

Moved by her family’s connection to the site, Jacinta Posik, 15, created three watercolour paintings to commemorate their visit.

One was laid alongside wreaths, another was gifted to the mayor of Pozieres and the third was made into a postcard to raise money for a memorial.

“The painting sums up my time there, the serene fields and my family history of fighting in that battle,” Jacinta said.

Amid crafting personal work for the family, Rockingham jeweller Martin Lovell came across Jacinta’s painting and felt inspired to reproduce her work in solid silver.

“I was quite taken by the painting so with Jacinta’s permission, I cast it into a silver plate and have donated it to the family — it will be auctioned and funds raised will go towards reconstructing the windmill at Pozieres,” he said.

“I feel proud to be a part of this important story.”

Acknowledging the family’s commitment to the memory of Australian men who lost their lives, Premier Mark McGowan said it was important to keep the connection alive between Rockingham and Pozieres.

“What the family has done is very special,” he said.

“A number of young West Australian men died in the First World War and remembering them is an important obligation we have to those who fought for us.”

Rockingham RSL president Ian Brook will visit France in July to present a plaque with the names of Rockingham soldiers who fought in World War I. It will be displayed along the Australian Remembrance Trail.

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