The Returned and Services League (RSL) has strongly criticized Georges River Council over plans to rename the Kogarah War Memorial Olympic Swimming Pool, a site that has served as a war memorial for more than 60 years. The council is scheduled to vote on Monday night regarding the renaming process of the pool at Carss Park, where a new $63 million aquatic centre is currently under construction.
The original swimming pool, which opened in 1965, was formally dedicated as a war memorial and is listed on the New South Wales War Memorials Register. Local RSL branches played a key role in raising funds for its construction. For decades, the facility has stood as a tribute to Australians who served in wartime, a legacy the RSL argues should be preserved.
The council’s official naming policy generally holds that existing place names should remain permanent. However, internal council documents suggest an exception is being considered on the grounds that the original pool has been demolished and "ceases to exist." A report to councillors states that because the previous facility has “reached end of life,” the new aquatic centre could receive an alternative name. Proposed naming options under the council’s policy include recognition of Aboriginal heritage, local flora and fauna, gender diversity, or multicultural representation.
The possibility of removing “War Memorial” from the pool’s name has prompted sharp objections from RSL NSW. In a letter to the council, RSL NSW president Brigadier Vincent Williams expressed deep disappointment and described the prospect as “disgusting.” He emphasized that the pool’s name is not simply a label for a sports facility but a symbol commemorating service and sacrifice. Brigadier Williams highlighted that replacing the physical pool should not come at the cost of erasing its historical significance, warning that dropping “War Memorial” risks severing the connection to the memory of those who served.
In response, Georges River councillor Elaina Anzellotti urged her colleagues to abandon the renaming process entirely, calling it disrespectful to veterans and their families. She argued that a war memorial’s identity should not be subject to bureaucratic procedures or naming reviews. “You can’t replace a war memorial and then not call it a war memorial,” she said, adding that it would be an insult to the community’s fallen and those who served.
The RSL intends to bring its concerns directly to Premier Chris Minns, who is also the local member for Kogarah, seeking to ensure the new aquatic centre retains the historic war memorial name. The upcoming council vote will determine whether the Kogarah War Memorial designation is maintained or replaced with a new title reflecting other local or cultural identities.