Aussie DiggerPrint Page 
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. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Sculpture |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | Multiple |
| Artist: | J. W. Elischer |
| Monument Manufacturer: | Bela Angyal (Sculpture Reproduction) |
Dedication
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"
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
