$ave St Ambrose Committee
TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR ST AMBROSE CHURH!
A Clarion Call!
We are perilously close to losing one of the most iconic, historically significant buildings in Australia, and we need your support!
It is no exaggeration to say that the situation is desperate. Too many precious buildings in Australia have been lost due to lack of funds, inaction or apathy. We are asking for your support to prevent this one falling (literally!) into history.
Firstly we need to record the stories and photographs of the people who were and are connected to St Ambrose by the christenings, marriages, funerals and events that took place. You can send stories and photos to this email, samacoverhaul@gmail.com
To a casual passer-by, 100-year-old St Ambrose Memorial Anglican Church (Gilgandra NSW) looks in fine fettle. But the brutal truth is revealed upon closer inspection. We need $800,000 to save this building, initiating vital repairs, without which it will collapse and a great treasure will be forever lost.
Iconic? Historically significant? Certainly. It is actually unique in our nation’s history. The construction of the church after World War One came about through a donation from St Ambrose Parish, Bournemouth in the United Kingdom, recognising Gilgandra as the town in the entire British Empire which had contributed the most to the war effort. This was because of the now legendary Cooee March of 1915, a snowball recruitment march which inspired others across Australia. Sadly, many of those young Cooees never returned home, but the walls of St Ambrose stand in tribute to them.
Contrary to glorifying war, the church was built “As a Memorial to the Fallen and a Thank Offering for Peace”. It became known as the Cooee Church and is treasured in Gilgandra and far beyond as a WW1 Memorial. Not surprising then that it is listed on the NSW War Memorial Register, as well as the NSW State Heritage Register, and the National Trust of Australia.
It is no exaggeration to say that the situation is desperate. Too many precious buildings in Australia have been lost due to lack of funds, inaction or apathy. We are asking for your support to prevent this one falling (literally!) into history.
Please spread the word and tell us your story.
Donate if you can
Do it for the Diggers
Donations to the National Trust fund are tax deductible
Bank details for the Tax Deductible donations
Account Name; SAMAC Appeal
BSB: 032078
Acc No: 939604
Contacts:
Madeline Foran +61 459 020 173
Stuart Border +61 447 229 050
More information will soon be available at:
Following WW1, the people of Bournemouth England offered a gift of 1200 Pounds to the community in the Empire which contributed the most to the war effort.
They had chosen Moosejaw in Canada but Bishop Long from Bathurst NSW was in England at the time and asked them to reconsider. He told them about Gilgandra and the decision was made.
The Foundation Stone was laid on 22 November 1920 ‘A Memorial to the Fallen and a Thank Offering for Peace”. The church eventually cost 6,000 Pounds.
The St Ambrose Anglican Church continues to be an important part of the Gilgandra Community.
The Coo-ee March Centenary Re-enactment in 2015 started in the church with a blessing by Rev Grahame Yager.
The centenary of the Foundation Stone being laid was celebrated in November 2020with a play written by Isla Tibbitts and performed with gusto by local players.
