The officially opening of the Bulli Woonona War Memorial 1924

By MICK ROBERTS ©

I BELIEVE he would have been there for sure – not in the official party, or as a dignitary, but more likely standing to the back, watching as the Bulli Woonona War Memorial was unveiled in 1924.

The cenotaph – which once sat on the corner of Hopetoun Street and the Princes Highway – bears the name of my great uncle, Jens Orvad. He was the son of a Danish immigrant; he was a coal miner at Coledale whose life was cut short in the name of forging an Australian identity.

Jim Orvad’s name on the Bulli Woonona Memorial at Slacky Flat, Bulli.

In a community that favoured Jack over John, Bill over William, Jens was better known as James, so I will refer to him as Jim in this story. He didn’t single handily change…