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12-January-2015
12-January-2015

Photographs supplied by Graeme Saunders
A sculpture of an Australian soldier commemorates those who have served in the various conflicts in which Australia has been involved.

The sculpture, was commissioned by the 59th Battalion Hume Regiment Inc., in honour of the unprepared militia who drove the enemy out of New Guinea during World War Two and was unveiled on the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Salamaua.

Location

Address:Wyndham & Knight Streets, Returned Services League Club, Shepparton, 3630
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -36.374304
Long: 145.400418
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Sculpture
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:Multiple
Artist:J. W. Elischer
Monument Manufacturer:Bela Angyal (Sculpture Reproduction)

Dedication

Left Side Inscription

The Volunteer

Without me, and my peers, the Admirals and generals can do nothing at all.

I fought :- 
In the mud of the Somme..
In a blazing destroyer on the North Sea.
On the perimeter at Tobruk..
Crashing in a flaming fighter in new Guinea.
Living with the dammed in cursed Changi..
Enduring, diseased and under resourced, on the Kokoda Track.

I was :-
Your mate..  The kid next door..
The med student graduate..
The mechanic in the garage..
The baker who made the bread..
The gardener who cut your lawn..
The clerk who sent the bills.

I was :-

An Army Private.. A Naval Commander..
An Air Force Bombardier..  I'm every Serviceman..
The Unknown Soldier who died for a cause held just,
that you and yours may in freedom say,

"I am proud to be an Australian"

 

Right Side Inscription

Aussie Digger

Sculptor : J. W. Elischer

This reproduction by Bela Angyal pays tribute to the ordinary citizens who enlisted, fought, endured and sacrificed much in war service for Australia

Unveiled by Major General M. P. J. O`Brien, C.S.C., Retd.
14 September 2003 

On the 60th anniversary of success at Salamaua.

Commissioned by 59th Battalion Hume Regiment Inc.,

In honour of unprepared militiamen who initially held the enemy away in Papua and then joined the 2nd AIF to drive them from Papua and New Guinea

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au