Unveiling and dedication of the north Bondi War MeMorial Sunday 27 November 2011 9am introdUction to north Bondi War MeMorial The driving essence of the new memorial is to symbolise the solidarity, unison, courage and spirit of Australian mateship during wartime. The memorial has used Australian sandstone and stainless steel, and the black granite has been imported especially from India. Today the Returned & Services League of Australia – North Bondi Sub-Branch, who commissioned the construction of this new war memorial, donates it to the community of Waverley. The new war memorial was designed by Byran Bathgate of Curtain Bathgate & Somers Architects, the commissioned sculpture is by Di Emme Creative Solutions and construction of the memorial site is by Whitcon Pty Ltd. Mitchell Brandtman NSW were project managers and quantity surveyors during construction of the memorial. The four main features of this new war memorial are: Memorial Sculpture Victoria Cross Wall the large “S” shape memorial sculpture is made the victoria cross recipients Wall is made of of marine grade stainless steel, glass and stone Black granite, and shows laser images, names, with four bronze pillars in the middle with the rank, and theatre of war for all 98 australian vc words “endurance”, “Mateship”, “courage” and award recipients; and “Sacrifice” inscribed.t hroughout the sculpture there are 20 descriptive plaques of each war australia has been in and one plaque dedicated “Lest We Forget” Wall to peacekeeping; the words “lest We forget” are emblazoned on a Black granite with aged bronze lettering Reginald ‘Reg’ Saunders Wall along with aged cast bronze badges of the royal australian navy, army and royal australian air the capt. reginald Saunders MBe granite force. Wall recognises australia’s firsta boriginal commissioned officer. it is emblazoned with the following quote “On Anzac eve we dug in among friends. At last I felt like an Anzac, and imagine there were 600 others like me.” this quote is in bronze lettering across a large Black granite Wall with a cast bronze plaque that reads “Capt. Reginald Walter Saunders MBE – the first Aboriginal commissioned officer, said on 24 April 1951 at the Battle of Kapyong during the Korean War.” this Wall overlooks Bondi Beach; 2 3 order of Service 1 Welcoming of guests by Presiding officer – 5 Dedication of the Memorial by chaplain Sub-Branch vice President david S. Sims gregory Mcgregor, ran 2 Hymn: “god of our fathers” 3 The lord’s Prayer: (to be said by all) 4 Unveiling Fly Past by the UH1B Iroquois Helicopter of the Royal Australian Navy Victoria cross recipients Wall unveiled A Message Historic Flight by retired army Warrant officer froM the rSl nSW State PreSident Keith Payne, vc, OAM Capt reginald Saunders MBe Wall (first aboriginal commissioned officer) unveiled 6 The royal australian navy catafalque party by gary oakley - indigenous liaison officer from hMaS Watson will be mounted and australian War Memorial and national as the people of north Bondi take up its position and “rest on arms” S we draw towards the President ATSivSa. centennial of anzac it gather here in quiet reflection immediately following the dedication Ais still important today that they will recall the sacrifice we “lest We forget” Wall unveiled by the ceremony. the national flag adjacent to the we remember those who as a nation have made. We will Joe Madeley OAM – President of the rats Memorial being lowered to “half-mast” prior served and those who made be reminded, particularly of the of tobruk association to the catafalque party taking up its position. valour of so many when we the supreme sacrifice for our Memorial sculpture unveiled by 7 Address by retired regimental Sergeant view the victoria cross Wall with country and the freedom of Brigadier david Mulhall, aM, cSc Major of the army Wally thompson the names etched of those who others around the world. this (commander 17th combat Support (1st rSM of the army) were awarded our nation’s highest magnificent War Memorial Service Brigade representing the chief of medal for gallantry. as we pause will remind us that young defence force and army), rSl nSW State to remember those who made the australians were prepared to put President don rowe OAM and supreme sacrifice we will remember the their lives on the line in our defence Mayor John Wakefield force. We see our men and women huge loss we as a nation suffered. it would serve in numerous places around the world also be a bigger tragedy if we did not pause to continuing the traditions that were founded remember them. lest We forget. nearly 100 years ago. Don Rowe OAM State President 4 5 BiograPhy 8 The laying of official Wreaths 16 The national anthem Keith Payne, VC, OAM Unveiling the Victoria Cross Wall 9 Address by Brigadier david Mulhall, aM, Australians all let us rejoice cSc – commander 17th combat Support For we are young and free With night falling, Payne rushed back Service Brigade n May 1969 australian Keith We've golden soil and wealth for toil, Payne was leading a mobile strike alone into enemy territory to 10 The ode given by north Bondi rSl Sub- force when the north vietnamese search for survivors. evading the Branch President fred alderman Our home is girt by sea: I army attacked from three communist’s fire, the 35-year old 11 Prayer (offered by all): o god of hosts Our land abounds in nature's gifts directions. What followed was australian spent three hours to put Payne into the select rescuing forty men who’d 12 Army Band Bugles/trumpets will sound Of beauty rich and rare, band of men who have earned been wounded or stranded “laSt PoSt” In history's page let every stage the victoria cross and survived. during the initial attack. 13 The Silence (two minutes) despite the danger, his injuries Advance australia fair, Born in Queensland in and undoubted fatigue, he 14 Army Band Bugles/trumpets will sound august 1933, Payne became In joyful strains then let us sing successfully led the party, which “reveille” an apprentice tradesman after included a wounded american Advance australia fair. leaving school. he subsequently 15 RSl nSW State President don rowe OAM advisor, back behind the defensive joined the army in 1951 and presents deed to new war memorial to Beneath our radiant Southern cross, perimeter and on to the battalion served in Korea and Malaya before Waverley council Mayor John Wakefield base, arriving at 3am. We'll toil with hearts and hands, being appointed to the elite australian army training team vietnam in february Payne’s bravery on that night earned him the To make this commonwealth of ours 1969. victoria cross, Britain and the commonwealth’s Renowned of all the lands, highest award for gallantry. he was also awarded on May 24th of that year, chief Warrant officer the distinguished Service cross by the United For those who've come across the seas (Wo-2) Payne was commanding the 212th States, and the republic of vietnam presented company of the 1st Mobile Strike force in We've boundless plains to share, him with the cross of gallantry with Bronze Star. Kontum when the NVA launched a powerful With courage let us all combine assault. With the company isolated and coming after vietnam Payne was posted to the royal under heavy rocket and mortar fire, Payne’s Military college, duntroon, as an instructor, To advance australia fair. indigenous troops began to retreat. despite being before retiring from the army in 1975. In joyful strains then let us sing, wounded in the hands and arms, he covered Keith Payne was one of only four men to earn the withdrawal before successfully establishing a Advance australia fair. the victoria cross in vietnam. defensive perimeter. 17 After the service has concluded the royal australian navy catafalque Party will be dismounted and dismissed. 18 Refreshment in the north Bondi rSl club. 6 7 BiograPhy BiograPhy Brigadier David T. Mulhall, AM, CSC commander 17th combat Service Support Brigade Warrant Officer Class 1 Wally Thompson, OAM Unveiling the Memorial Sculpture and Guest Speaker Guest Speaker operations – army, before deploying to he made three tours of vietnam and AVID Mulhall was born on o1 Wally thompson was born 14 nov 1964 in Brisbane and iraq as the chief of Plans (logistics), in Sydney in 1932 and educated fought with the “fighting first” Dcompleted school at the Marist Multi-national force – iraq. Upon atW ashfieldt echnical School. he (1rar) at the Battle of fire college ashgrove. he graduated return to australia in august 2006, enlisted in the citizen Military Support Base coral in 1968. Brigadier Mulhall was posted as from the officerc adet School forces in 1950 with the 30th on return to australia Wo1 the director logistics – army Portsea in 1984 into the royal Battalion (nSW Scottish) and thompson filled a large and then attended the centre australian corps of transport. in the next four years also number of training positions for defence and Strategic completed his national Service after gaining regimental, staff with regular and reserve Studies. on completion of that after transferring to the 45th and representational experience units, skillfully imparting his vast course in december 2008, Battalion (the St george as a junior officer, Brigadier knowledge of the military art to Brigadier Mulhall was promoted regiment). Mulhall was promoted to major soldiers, young and old alike. to his current rank and appointed in 1995 and posted to the British after that he relinquished his as the inaugural chief of Staff he was awarded the Medal of army’s School of logistics to study attained rank of sergeant and army headquarters.