“It looks really aggressive and it points at people entering
the park,” said Gerald Ganglbauer, former resident of Redfern.
According to Mr Ganglbauer, the 40mm Bofors gun was used
during Wold War Two.
During Redfern
Park’s $20 million
upgrade, a development application was passed by Council to retain the gun.
The upgrade which will make Redfern Park
more ‘green’, is due for completion next month and the restoration of war
memorials, including the gun and a World War One granite column have already
been completed.
Mr Ganglbauer said the gun was not just an issue for those
who use the park, but for the wider Redfern community. He also suggested the
artefact be relocated to a war museum.
“I’m a pacifist, you see. What am I going to do with a gun
at [the park]?” he added.
However, the honorary secretary of the Redfern RSL, Aub
Silcock, said the gun is an important piece of Australian wartime history.
“There’s a strong rumour it was up in New Guinea
during the bad days of ’’43, ’’44,” Mr Silcock added.
He also dismissed the idea of moving the gun to a war
museum.
“You tell me one museum which will take the gun,” Mr Silcock
said.
And after many months of campaigning, he believes the
Council’s decision will finally put an end to the matter.
“I think it’s now there for good because the Council would
not have spent that much of money only for it to be removed again,” Mr Silcock
added.
“If they’re still complaining about it, then it’s bad luck.”