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Road to recognition |
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It’s Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, which now has a life-size bronze sculpture commemorating the 3000 World War I returned soldiers and sailors who built it. This year is the 75th anniversary of the year in which the road was opened. Veterans’ Affairs Minister Bruce Billson officially unveiled the sculpture at Eastern View between Lorne and Airey’s Inlet on the Great Ocean Road on April 13. The monument, which took sculptor Julie Squires six months to complete, is titled The Diggers. She described the task as captivating and at times emotional, including a visit to the Australian War Memorial, research into WWI uniform texture, sourcing original picks and shovels, and obtaining WWI service medals from her own family. Nine soldiers from 8/7RVR and 2/10 Fd Regt acted as catafalque party members and flag and door orderlies at the unveiling. The RAAF Central Band provided musical support, while members of the Australian Great War Association paraded in WWI uniforms. Mr Billson began his address by acknowledging “serving members of the ADF, aren’t they magnificent thank you for all you do for our nation”. He praised Ms Squires for her sculpture, which depicted mateship and helping each other, lending a hand to get a job done. Mr Billson said 3000 returned servicemen worked for 13 years to build the road. After coming back from the war they made another contribution to our country. The road, built to honour the memory of the 60,000 Australians who died during the Great War, was completed in April 1932 and was officially opened in November of that year by the Lieutenant Governor of Victoria, Sir William Irvine. The President of the Victorian Branch RSL, Maj-Gen David McLachlan (rtd), said constructing the road helped the returned servicemen adjust back into civilian life and was therapy for many. |
