NORTH SYDNEY ANZAC MEMORIAL CLUB THE BEGINNING /1774- (T,Y AIM"r (As recorded by the Hon. Sir John Cramer, Patron) Notwithstanding the other activities, the outstanding achievement whilst I was Mayor, was the construction of the Anzac Memorial Hall opposite the Cammeray Golf Course at North Sydney. I found a pile of files two feet high in the records of the Council, dealing with this matter. It appeared that after the First World War, a movement commenced at North Sydney to build a Hall to commemorate Anzac. A large amount of money was raised and a Trust established, the leading figure was the then State Member for North Sydney, Dugald Thompson. Other important Trustees of the Fund were Tom V. Roberts and Dr. Sam J. Moreau. When Dugald Thompson passed away, there were great disagreements in the Committee and Trustees and the general body of Ex-Servicemen. Although a site for the Hall had been selected in Carlow Street, North Sydney, the objective never came to fruition and the Hall was never built. Although there was great public disappointment, and legal action was threatened on a number of occasions, the disputes could never be settled, and in the end, the money raised was invested in Commonwealth Bonds, and deposited by the surviving Trustees in the Safe Deposit Vaults in the Commonwealth Bank in Martin Place, Sydney. Unfortunately, these remaining Trustees, Tom Roberts and Dr. Moreau had bitter differences and were not on speaking terms. The files show that on a number of occasions, representations had been made to the Council through the then Mayor to try to resolve the dispute, but despite this effort, no conclusion was reached. Before I became Mayor, I had heard of the problems and the unsuccessful efforts made to find a solution. In the course of my Aldermanic duties, I had attended many functions at the different ex-servicemens organisations in the Municipality. In North Sydney, there were three organisations I knew of, one at Kirribilli, a second at the Union Club at the corner of Berry and Miller Streets, North Sydney, and a third in Willoughby Road, Crows Nest, called the Services Club, towards the end, The Anzac Club. There were a lot of fine fellows in each of these Clubs. They were anxious to get unity amongst all the ex-servicemen, but somehow, old scores which existed could not be healed (although all were members of the R.S.L. Central Control body), and objected to any control being exercised over the conditions or running of the individual Clubs whilst they wished to link up with the Central body. I had hardly sat down in the Mayoral chair when representations were made to me to try to rectify the big problem of getting an Anzac Hall. All sections approached me, but the most persistent were from the Crows Nest Club, where I operated my Real Estate business nearby. Hardly a day passed without the President of the Club, Frank Cook, or the Secretary, Charles Ebbrell, coming to see me, I knew them both previously. Frank worked for Clarke and Walker, a hardware store with which my firm dealt, and Charles was a one-armed ex-serviceman who worked for the Tramway Department in Ernest Street. They drummed into me the past history, and I stated that I appreciated the difficulties of the task. They pointed out to me that someone in authority had to face up to these difficulties and overcome them. I told them finally that I would only take it on if we get all sections of the ex-servicemens organisations concerned into line. They suggested that the way to do this was to have a dinner at the Crows Nest Hotel, at which I, as Mayor, would be Guest of honour, and at which both Tom Roberts and Dr. Moreau would be present and would appeal to me to take steps to have the Memorial Hall built. This dinner took place on the 24th January, 1940, and was well organised, and all sections of ex-servicemens Clubs at North Sydney were present. It was a great credit to Frank Cook and Charles Ebbrell, and their team of committeemen from the Crows Nest Club. The atmosphere created was good, and a friendly spirit pervaded the dinner. After the usual toasts, and an explanation of the purpose of the function was given, Tom Roberts was asked to speak. He was a very excitable and highly strung man, and had suffered the tragedy of his son being killed in the War. He made a splendid speech, highly emotional, patriotic and very effective on his audience. I must admit, it affected me deeply, and when he finally came over to me, put his hand firmly on my shoulder and said "Mr Mayor, I charge you with the responsibility to see that an Anzac Memorial Hall is built at North Sydney", I felt that this was a sacred trust bestowed upon me. He continued, and promised to do all in his power to help, and the following is an authentic signed copy of the record of the Inaugural Dinner and a resolution passed at same:- "At the Annual Committee Dinner of the North Sydney Anzac Memorial Club at Crows Nest Hotel on the 24th January, 1940, the following guests being present; Mr. Tom Roberts, Alderman J.O. Cramer (Mayor of North Sydney), Alderman Delandro, Alderman K. Bolton, Mr. C. Ebbrell (President of the Tramway Returned Soldiers Sub-Branch), Mr. F. Cook (President of the Anzac Memorial Club), Pay Lieut. Commander E.J. Owen, R.N.R. (President of North Sydney Returned Soldiers Sub- Branch), Mr. C. Clarke (Secretary North Sydney Soldiers Sub-Branch). In the course of the after dinner speeches, mention was made of the North Sydney Memorial Hall fund. At this juncture, Mr. Tom Roberts, who was one surviving Trustee of the North Sydney Anzac Memorial Hall Fund, stated that it was his earnest wish that a committee be formed tonight to administer the fund and turning to the Mayor said he was impressed by his earnestness in connection with the welfare of the returned men and he could not think of a more suitable gentlemen than the Mayor to guide the destinies of such a Committee. Under the stress of some emotion, Mr. Roberts referred to the late Mr. Harry Green, ex Mayor of North Sydney, who was a co-trustee of this fund when it was inaugurated. Mr. Roberts went on to say that our present Mayor would be a worthy successor to the late Mr. Harry Green. Mr. Roberts further stated that he wanted his wish translated into bricks and mortar, and that in the immediate future, he earnestly felt that the month of February would see us on the way to obtaining this object. He further asked that the Committee be formed there and then. After many suggestions, it was unanimously resolved that the following form the required Committee:- Patron Mr. Tom Roberts Chairman Ald. J.O. Cramer (Mayor of North Sydney) Vice-Chairman Ald. Frank Delandro Committee Mr. F. Cook (President North Sydney Anzac Memorial Club) Pay Lieut. Comdr. E.J. Owen R.N.R. (President North Sydney Soldiers Sub-Branch) Mr. C. Ebbrell (President Tramways Returned Soldiers Sub-Branch) Hon. Secretary Mr. P. Hughes Mr. Roberts indicated his approval of the personnel of the Committee, and stated he would willingly co-operate and attend any Meetings called. He appealed to the Mayor, Alderman Cramer, to call a meeting of the Committee at an early date and that he would pay the monies, of which he was a Trustee, to the Committee charged with the responsibilities of carrying out the purpose for which the monies were subscribed. He then suggested that the Committee should direct the amalgamation of all the Anzac Memorial Hall funds in North Sydney. Signed: Thomas Roberts, Patron J.O. Cramer , Chairman Frank Delandro, E.J. Owen, F.W. Cook Chas.I. Ebbrell. I felt very moved by this, and accepted the challenge it presented. I knew it was only a start, and in light of the problems unresolved, there was much work to be done. I realised I had to carefully prepare the way I handled the matter, and this became more and more apparent when I read the details contained in the files of the actions previously taken, which had always fallen down because they were too arbitrary and did not appreciate the different kind of personalities involved. To start the ball rolling, I got the full Council to agree to a request by the Crows Nest Club to address the Council in session. The deputation, led by Frank Cook, the President, and Charles Ebbrell and other members of the Committee, had appointed Vic Dugan as their spokesman. He was previously Secretary of the Club, he put the case well, so that all the Aldermen of the Council understood what was going on and what was required of the Council. I fully appreciated that the position was always very sensitive and needed very discreet handling if it were to succeed, notwithstanding the promises made at the Dinner. The plain fact was that the Memorial Hall could never get off the ground until we had possession of the substantial sum of money held in trust by Tom Roberts and Dr. Moreau. I sought and had long talks with them both privately and seperately. They still had some sort of antipathy for each other. Tom was very difficult and was determined he would not let the money go until it was decided to run everything his way.