News

Memorial wall honours Cooma servicemen

By Bree Lambert

Sep 1, 2026

Kyabram RSL affiliate member Clive Toms pays tribute to the servicemen honoured on the Cooma Memorial Wall. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

The stories and sacrifices of Cooma servicemen have been given a new home following the unveiling of a memorial wall at Kyabram Cemetery on Friday, August 28.

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The Kyabram RSL sub-branch led the project to relocate plaques from the former Cooma Methodist Memorial Church before the building was sold.

The plaques commemorate 19 local servicemen who served during World War I and World War II, including four who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Victorian RSL senior vice-president Des Callaghan and Griffith local Graham Snow, whose father Albert Snow served during World War I, unveiled the wall.

Victorian RSL senior vice-president Des Callaghan and Graham Snow unveiled the Cooma Memorial Wall at Kyabram Cemetery. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Kyabram RSL sub-branch president Greg O’Connell invited Mr Callaghan to share some words, speaking of the four servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice — Robert William ‘Willie’ Poole, Albert Robinson, Harold Cruse and Alexander ‘Alec’ Poole.

The four men were killed in action at Gallipoli, on the Western Front and during the evacuation of Crete.

Retired Uniting Church minister and nephew of Robert Poole, reverend Arthur Poole, led a prayer of dedication and blessing of the Cooma Memorial Wall.

Reverend Arthur Poole led a prayer and blessing, and spoke about the memorial plaques. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

“By restoring and rededicating these plaques, we are rededicating ourselves, declaring as a community that the passage of time will not diminish our gratitude, and commit ourselves to guard the values they died for,” he said.

“These memorial plaques tell the story of ordinary citizens who left the comfort of homes and friends and answered the call of duty,” he said.

“That’s why today is so important. We are renewing a sacred promise.”

“We are ensuring that when future generations walk past this spot, these names will shine brightly, demanding their attention and commanding their respect.”

The ceremony included the laying of wreaths, a performance by nephew of Alexander Poole and country singer-songwriter Reg Poole, prayer and the rededication of the memorial, followed by the reading of the men’s names, the Ode and the Last Post.