Bega is hosting a very special event to celebrate the centenary of the Bega Solders’ Memorial on Saturday May 25.
The community is invited to take part in the celebrations which will include a street march, military displays, music, a commemorative photo installation and special presentations.
President of the Bega RSL Sub branch, Gary Berman, told ARN Bega Bay the occassion has seen nearly $60,000 spent on the Memorial precinct to give it a lift, create a new wall mural, as well as to mark the occasion with a special march and ceremony on Saturday.
“This memorial was to pay homage to the solider’s who died in the first world war, and they will be commemorated by their relations and local school kids at this ceremony,” Mr Berman said.
“We’ll be forming up for the march at Club Bega around 10:10am like we do for ANZAC Day, marhcing off to the centenary gates area and the ceremony will commence around 11am,” he said.
Listen to the second part of the iHeart Far South Coast podcast to learn more about the 100 year Bega War Memorial celebrations and the mural painted by local artist Terri Tuckwell.
“We’ll have some people there from the Sydney RSL as well local members, and a number of special guest speakers.”
The day will also feature escort from the Bemboka Light Horse Brigade and the Bega Pony Club, and the Duntroon Royal Military Band.
“We’ll have Army and Navy representation with the 105 Howitzer or cannon, bushmaster, landrovers, and a Navy helicopter,” Mr Berman said.
“After the march and the ceremony have finished all the vehicles will proceed down past kisses lagoon and back around to the bottom of Bega Street below Rec Ground 1 and there’ll be some food stalls and exhibits there for people to have a look at.”
The Royal Military Band will also be putting on a Bega Soldiers’ Memorial concert at St Patrick’s College in Bega from 7:30pm on Saturday, with tickets $10 for adults and $5 for kids.
Mr Berman said the centenary celebrations wouldn’t be happening without the help of a lot of people across the Bega Valley.
“Pat Raymond from the Genealogical Society, and Kay Jauncey from the Bega Historical Museum, without those two this thing wouldn’t have got off the ground and they deserve a special mention,” Mr Berman said.
“Ed Crowther and Peter Fragopoulos from (Bega Valley Shire) Council and the other work teams have done a great job fixing up the grounds, and the Mayor, Russell Fitzpatrick, has come through on his word to help out, and also the artist who has done our beautiful mural, Terri Tuckwell, needs to be acknowledged as well.”
The mural that sits next to the Soldiers’ Memorial, depicts the silhouette of three soldiers, representing the Army, Navy and Air Force, standing next to an eternal flame and above poppies.
“The side of the reject shop wall was just a big blank grey wall with a bit of amateur graffiti on it, nothing too pretty but now the wall along with the rest of the park has been restored into a much more beautiful, tranquil and respectful environment,” Ms Tuckwell said.
The 16 metre-long mural commissioned by the Bega RSL Sub Branch, features four portraits of war veterans connected to the Far South Coast.
The first panel is of Colonel Irwin and the 1st World War era.
The second depicts Sister Vivian Bullwinkle and the Second World War era.
The third, reflects on Vietnam, the Malayan emergency and the Indonesian confrontation and shows machine gun operator Ronny Keft who was wounded in Vietnam with the second image of John Leeman from the Bornio confrontation.
The fourth and final panel is dedicated to Australia’s role in more recent conflicts and shows Warrant Officer Class 1 and Bega local, Darren HallSizer.
Ms Tuckwell is proud of her work, and hopes the mural can be a poignant reminder of Bega’s wartime history for generations to come.
“I’ve been looking at photos of this strapping lad from Vietnam and a fellow came up to me the other day, and it’s obviously a few years on from that and he said that’s me you’re going to be painting, so just to remember that these men were just young lads when they went over and we’ve recieved lots of positive feedback about respecting these people who fought for us,” Ms Tuckwell said.
“I’m not in support of war and I don’t know that many of the people who fought were, but they went and I think I want people to look at the mural and respect their sacrifice.”
Images: James Fennessy
