Staff and inmates at St Heliers Correctional Centre have restored one of the historic artillery pieces on Memorial Drive in Muswellbrook, after the local RSL was unable to source a contractor for the work.
Using recycled hardwood salvaged from buildings scheduled for demolition, inmates in the correctional centre’s furniture unit carefully repaired and rebuilt the artillery piece’s damaged wheel and spokes over the past month, developing restoration and woodworking skills in the process.
The restored components have since been reattached, and the artillery piece has received its final coat of paint. Members of the local RSL inspected the completed work and were delighted with the outcome.
Following the project’s success, further restoration work on other memorial items along Memorial Drive is now being planned, with several of the ideas coming from the inmates involved in the project.
