The Branxton to Greta Memorial Cycleway will educate and connect our communities with the brave men and women of the Hunter who have served our country selflessly in times of war and peacekeeping.
There can be no doubt the two towns of Branxton and Greta have a strong military past whether it was by many locals volunteering to serve our nation or through the Greta Army Camp that trained so many Diggers for overseas duty. Add to this background the long-standing desire to link the two towns it became obvious to local businessman and retired Army Officer Brett Wild who put forward the concept of a Memorial Cycleway. With the support of the local RSL Sub Branch the concept grew into a project that has gained the imagination and endorsement of the wider community.
The Branxton – Greta Memorial Cycleway Charity was formed and in 2018. The goal was to secure funding from Local, State and Federal Governments to pay for the physical infrastructure of the cycleway. The charity aimed to create innovative opportunities for corporates, individuals and other supporters to help bring the memorial aspects of the project to life.
Later that same year the Charity received patronage from His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), who at the time was the Governor General of NSW
In June of 2020, under the Australian Government’s ‘Building Better Regions’ fund – Infrastructure Projects Stream, and a significant contribution from the Cessnock City Council the government funding, in excess of $2 million, was secured to build an off-road, shared cycleway between Branxton and Greta. The concept was now taking major steps forward to realise the dream of so many!
Whist the Branxton – Greta Memorial Cycleway Ltd has changed its name to the Hunter Anzac Memorial the passion and determination to deliver a physical link between the two towns as well as honour the many sacrifices made from the region is as strong as ever. In recent developments, Mr Barney Collins – the architect of the popular Newcastle Memorial Walkway has joined the team to oversee the design.
“The Branxton – Greta Memorial Cycleway will not only be an asset to the two towns sharing the pathway but will become a place visited by all Australians wanting to respect and honour our military past and those that gave their lives to we could live in freedom” Mr Wild said.
