25/04/2025
At today's ANZAC Day memorial, we gathered as a community around our Fallen Soldiers Memorial. Opened officially on Wednesday 23rd Nov 1921 the following was recorded in the Mercury Newspaper. Lest we Forget
MONUMENT UNVEILED AT YARRAWONGA
A very handsome memorial to fallen soldiers was unveiled at Yarrawonga on Wednesday last. The arrangements were in the hands of the Yarrawonga shire council, and their completeness reflects the greatest credit upon Cr. Connell (shire President) and Mr. Threlfall (secretary) upon whose shoulders fell the bulk of the work. The monument has been erected at the intersection of Belmore and Piper streets, and the handsome structure will be the first thing to attract the attention of anybody approaching the town. The unveiling ceremony was performed by Sir John Gellibrand, K.C.B., C.M.G., and others who were present and took part were Dr. Harris, M.L.C., the Hon J. J. Carlisle, M.L.A., Col. W. H. Scott, C.M.G., D. S. O. and bar, Chaplain Col. Wray, C.M.G., C.B.E., and Lt. Col. Martin. The visitors were met at the station, and a procession consisting of the school children, headed by the local band, was formed and marched to the place where the ceremony was to take place. Upon arrival there some airs were struck up by the Telford Pipers Band. In front of the monument a stage had been improvised, upon which the visitors were accommodated, and in front of them again seats had thoughtfully been provided for the children, who were thus given the place of honor. When the ceremony was commenced there were about 1500 persons present. The weather, which had been cloudy in the morning, was beautifully fine and slightly on the warm side in the afternoon when the ceremony took place. Cr. Connell presided.
The Chairman said that day, so far as that district was concerned, he supposed, marked the closing scene in the late war. Australia had taken her place in the nations of the world during the war. It was up to them to acknowledge the services of those who who went to fight for them. He then welcomed the visitors, and called upon Mr. J. J. Carlisle. (Applause.)
Mr. Carlisle, who was received with applause, paid a tribute to the very fine monument which had been erected. He complimented Cr. Connell, who had proved himself a loyal citizen during the war, and it was mainly due to his energy that the monument was erected. He concluded by saying he was very pleased to see them there that day. (Applause.)
Dr. Harris, M.L.C., spoke of the pleasure he felt at seeing the fine honor roll they had in the shire hall. If those men had not gone to the war the probability was that they would not be in their homes and on their farms to-day. While he was greatly in favor of the Washington Conference and peace, there were always little bickerings going on amongst them, therefore, how could the nations be expected to keep at peace. In the future, if that sort of thing went on they were going to have war again. The great thing in connection with our nation was that 400,000 went to the war. What a glorious record. The man who stopped at home assisted in money and sympathy. This memorial would be an incentive to the rising generation. The death those men whose names appeared on the monument died was the most glorious of all, and their names would live for ever. (Applause.)
Colonel Scott also spoke, and said that it was not only the duty of a man to fight for his country, but to be prepared and ready to die for it. They had all seen bush fires, and people did not wait until the fire came to their fence to go out and fight it. In Parliament big reductions were taking place in the estimates, and the Defence vote was the first thing hit at. They had a great ideal in a White Australia, and we were not insuring the carrying out of that policy. Every class of arms was required in war, and he urged those present to remember that they had a duty to others besides themselves. (Applause.) He congratulated them upon the splendid memorial they had erected. (Applause.)
Lt. Colonel J. L. Martin said he looked upon this as the final act in a great drama, and he hoped that war would be ended for all time. He congratulated them upon their splendid memorial. It would be everlasting, extending from generation to generation. He had had 33 years military experience, and the training of the lads was keeping the fire alight. It was an insurance, the same as any other insurance policy. To be prepared for war every man must be prepared to defend his country. (Applause.) These young men who went out to fight went to secure peace, and they were not spoiling for a fight, as some people said. To-day they were free, while otherwise they might have been under the foot of an oppressor. He urged them to carry on as their fathers had carried on. It was up to every man and every boy who passed this column to take off his hat, and to every soldier in uniform to salute it. In conclusion, he urged them to be loyal. (Applause.)
Col. Chaplain Wray, who was received with applause, commenced by saying he had just seen the honor roll in the shire hall, and the long list of names. He could not help thinking what a splendid testimony it was to the loyalty of the people of that shire. He regarded it as a great privilege to look at that honor roll, and to be present at the unveiling of that memorial. In erecting the memorial, which had no utilitarian use at all, they had done honor to themselves and their district. He hoped it would always be an incentive to the young people of the district to "play the game." He was pleased to congratulate those who had erected the monument, and at the same time he extended his sympathy to those who were the relatives of those whose names appeared on it. (Applause.)
Sir John Gellibrand said the monument was an honor to the men and women of the district, because the men whose names appeared on it forsook all and gave up all to do their duty. It would stand for all time as an example of gallantry. The monument contained the names of men who had paid the supreme sacrifice. He knew no more characteristic feature of the A.I.F. than the loyalty of the men to their colleagues. He would like to suggest to them that honor rolls, avenues of honor, etc. stood for nothing unless they stood out to help the men and women who paid the call of duty. There was many a time in the field when a minute was equivalent to an hour of life. Was it not time to say that those men who lost eyes or limbs were monuments of the war. He therefore said that the monument was a symbol of public spirit. It would be a bold man to prophecy what the future had in store for our empire, and this grand country of ours. If the people are guided by the same passionate loyalty the same endurance, and the same thoroughness of heart and body as the men and women who went to the Great War, there was no need to fear for the future. (Aplause.)
Sir John Gellibrand then unveiled the monument, which has been erected at a cost of £1100, and consists of three granite steps, all fine axed, covering a space of 8 feet 6 inches square. Then following is a moulded base, 4ft. 6in. square, also fine axed, upon which is set the die stone where the names of the fallen are engraved. The die is all polished, with a margin round the size of 3ft. 6in. by 3ft. 6in. Following this is a cap 4ft. 6in. square where the statue of a soldier standing at ease carved out of Italian marble, 6 feet high, is placed, and above there is a large column, 12 ft. 6in. high, by 2ft. 6in. on the bottom, all polished granite. The figure of the soldier stands at the foot of it, and on top of this column is a cap 3ft by 3ft., which is surmounted by a very handsome and artistic figure of Peace which is also 6 feet high, and beautifully sculptured in Italian marble. The whole of the monument is 27 feet high, and is composed of Australian granite, with the exception of the two figures, which were imported from Italy. On the east side was the rising sun, as depicted on the hats of the A.I.F., with the following inscription underneath: "To our brave heroes, who gave their lives for King Country and Empire in the Great World War, 1914-19. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." On the other sides were the following 62 names of fallen soldiers, all the lettering being the work of Mr. John Talochino, as follows:— J. Allen, J. Barry, H. R. Bowler, F. Byrnes, D. Cameron, T. M'L. Carmichael, D. J. Cavanagh, C. C. Chappel, D. Cooper, P Corboy H. S. Cowell, J. Crilly, E. Cross, E. Crisp, M. Darcy, M. J. Doyle, M. P. Dwyer, J. Edwards, jun., S. J. Harding, M. E. Hayen, J. C. Hickford, A. W. James, A. Jones, J. Jose, W. C. Laurence, V. J. Lees, W. Love, E. Martin, H. S. Martin, P. Meehan, J. J. Mullins, L. G. M'Beath, F. M. M'Donald, P. M'Donough, P. M'Grath, D. G. M'Kay, J. P. M'Kay, A. R. Olly, D. O'Brien, R. M. O'Bryan, J. B. Pickett, C. Powley, H. H. Prescott, G. F. Reynolds, M. A. Robin, T. Roff, R. W. Rosser, F. Sargeant, W. D. Siloane, A. Smith, G. A. Smyth, W. Sutherland, H. Symmonds, E. Taylor, R. C. White G. Young and C. Carey.
The structure is a very handsome one, and the work has been most thoroughly and artistically carried out. It is the work of Messrs. Talochino and Son, Benalla, and in every way it reflects the greatest credit upon them. Very many highly flattering comments were made on all side as to the beauty of the design and the work.
The Last Post was sounded by Sgt. Page. A number of beautiful wreaths were placed on the steps by a number of people, and Cr. Chapell spoke a few words on behalf of those who had lost relatives at the war.
