The boards honouring those that served in World War I and World War II returned from Sydney where they were given some care to ensure they can last another century.

The boards spent decades exposed to the elements in the old Gunbar church and almost disappeared without a trace in 1981.

In March that year, thieves broke into Gunbar Hall and had stacked their loot by the side door ready to be collected under the cover of darkness.

Luckily, Gunbar's Pat Flanagan was driving past the hall that afternoon after visiting Hay and spotted the broken door at the hall.

He stopped and repatriated the thieves haul out this is farm at Sunrise.

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A Carrathool Shire Council staff member persuaded the community to apply for the state government's memorial fund to have the honour boards restored in 2017.

The boards made it to Sydney in 2018 but were beset by a range of delays including a shortage of skilled tradies, transport worries and COVID-19 before they returned to Gunbar in 2021.

On behalf of Carrathool Shire Council, Councillor Russell Campbell officiated a handover ceremony at the Gunbar Church in October.

"It's great that the boards are back with us now. A lot of you would remember the very sorry state they were in after being stored down in the Gunbar Hall and then out at Sunrise," Cr Russell said.

"Of course, after almost 100 years, most of us would need some TLC, and that's what the boards have had in Sydney so they can last another 100 years or more."

Pat Flanagan accepted the boards on behalf of the community, and thanked council for their ongoing interest and support for Gunbar, in particular for securing the funds for the restoration project and also all the work necessary in getting the job done.

Mr Flanagan said the World War I honour board shows the name of Gunbar's most famous wartime hero, William Jackson VC who was awarded his Victoria Cross for valour during the conflict.

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