Rotary clubs in the lower South Island (district 9980) were recently called to attention by district president John Prendergast, who challenged the district's 31 clubs to clean up as many of the 280 rural war memorials in the region as possible.
From South Canterbury to Fiordland, statues, monuments and plaques have been cleaned, gardens weeded, trees trimmed and walls painted to return memorials to their best.
The Rotary Club of Taieri has completed the clean-up of the East Taieri War Memorial, and is preparing to complete a similar project at the Hyde War Memorial later this year, club president Bruce Cockroft said.
Although it was a big undertaking, he believed many hands made light work.
''We gave the East Taieri memorial a good scrub and de-scunged the mould from the back.
''It should last another 100 years.
''It was very rewarding. That's another job we can tick off the list.''
Mr Prendergast, of Invercargill, said his grandfather fought at Gallipoli and he had been ''moved'' when he attended a dawn parade there in 2005.
''I was conscious that with the centenary of World War 1 approaching next year and the centenary of Gallipoli in 2015, it would be good to have memorials looking spick and span.''
The project was also a good fit with the Rotary International theme for 2012-13, which was peace through service, he said.
While the year-long project would not end until June next year, many of the district's clubs have freshened up memorials in time for Anzac Day.
Mr Cockroft said it was just one of many projects Rotary clubs undertook around the country.
''Rotary is all about getting out in the community and doing stuff.
''We do everything from cleaning war memorials to chopping firewood and supporting youth in the community.''
Rotary clubs around the region each plan to do one or more memorials before the end of June next year.
