The Commemorative Plaques Project has been a voluntarily project for the
sculptor but substantial money has been needed to achieve the end
result. Ross Bastiaan has all the funds for the fabrication, cementation
and maintenance of the plaques around the world. To date over A$300,000
has been provided by predominantly private companies both in Australia
and abroad. The Australian Government has also given significant
assistance. The Headquarters of The Returned & Services League of
Australia has generously provided central, regulated banking facilities
and auditing services for the funds raised.
The most important supporter of the plaques has been
Arrow Foundry
in Cheltenham, Melbourne. This company has done all the casting of the
plaques and at cost. Help from all staff has been continual and generous
especially with the often-tight deadlines imposed by anniversary
commemorations abroad. Of all people who have helped the sculptor, Mr
Lawrie Robson stands out. He, with the sculpture has helped design and
prepare the outlay of each plaque in the collection and even when under
pressure has never failed.
Of the many companies that have given support three stand out. WMC,
through its C.E.O. Mr Hugh Morgan, has given both repeatedly and
generously to the plaque projects. AMP
and
John-Allison/Monkhouse
have always provided funding when asked and many executives in other
companies have supported the projects at board level. Airlines such as Qantas,
British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Olympic, Thai International and Gulf
Air have often carried the 80-kilogram plaques free or in kind.
Individual ex-patriot Australians have been outstanding when logistic
support has been required in far off places. The Kokoda series in PNG
would never have been completed without the help of Dr Richard Pickworth
MBE, Mr Frank Taylor and Mr Eric Wynn. In Thailand, John Moushall moved
mountains of red tape whilst in Borneo, Richard and Nicky Home constructed
the plinths at their cost. These are the Australians you never hear about
but they gave freely of their time and money, never seeking
acknowledgment, unlike so many others. Local people, like Andrew Chong and
Tan Sri Ben Stephens in Sabah gained local government support when
negotiations were slowed whilst Dr John Laffin the well known Australian
military historian has always been in the back ground with sound advice
and encouragement, especially in France and Belgium. The sculptor thanks
his friend Professor Peter Reade AM for being with him on most of the
overseas trips and helping in the installation of the plaques and
photographing events.
The work of Owen O'Brien in Sydney was invaluable in the Gallipoli project
when he forged the financial links vital at the start of the whole plaque
saga. Equally Tony Charlton OAM of Melbourne opened sponsors doors to
complete the funding of Gallipoli plaques. Charlton also privately funded
the Bullicourt plaque requesting anonymity.
The Australian Government, besides funding some plaques has provided
expertise through the Department of Veterans Affairs in Canberra and
especially through the division of The Office of the Australian War
Graves. The Ministers of Veterans Affairs including The Hon. Ben
Humphries, John Fawkner and the present Minister Bruce Scott, have over
the years provided the extra assistance when sort to secure the projects
abroad. In France and Belgium the OAWG organized all the plinths and
particular thanks are extended to Admiral Neal Ralph and Air-Vice Marshal
Alan Heggin. The current Director, Air Vice Marshall Beck installed the
plaque at Sandakan and the revised text at Fromelles, his assistance is
appreciated.
In the United Kingdom, The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has offered
valuable advice and assistance with the plaques. In particular their
support ensured that the Tobruk plaque was installed and later repaired.
The location of the plaques have at times caused difficulties for the CWGC
but over the years they have been most generous with their collaboration.
The staff at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra have often come to
the rescue when historical details were needed, especially Dr Peter
Stanley. The Memorials chairman General Peter Gration AC OBE when Chief of
the Defence Force was a strong supporter, especially with logistic support
for the Kokoda Trail project.
The person most committed to help has always been the sculptor's wife
Deborah. She has proof read and amended the text on every plaque and has
tolerated years of intrusion into family life by the many hundreds of
people who have been part of the plaque projects.
Projects as broad reaching are never the result of one persons work but
rather a collective effort for a common good.
COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE SPONSORSHIPS
TURKEY (1990) - Gallipoli Series - tells the story of Australia's
and
New Zealand's involvement at Anzac on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.
Sponsorship
1. Ari Burnu
.............................................................................................
AMP Society
2. Anzac Cove
.........................................................................................
BHP
3. Shrapnel Valley
....................................................................................
Wormald
4. Shell Green
..........................................................................................
Wormald
5. Lone Pine
.............................................................................................
BHP
6. Courtney's & Steeles' Post
.................................................................... John
Allison/Monkhouse
7. Quinn's Post
.........................................................................................
ANZ
8. The Nek
...............................................................................................
AMP
9. Chunuk Bair
..........................................................................................
Qantas
10. Hill 971
...............................................................................................
Coca Cola Amatil
11. Gallipoli Map - Chunuk Bair
................................................................. Air New
Zealand
12. Gallipoli Map - Kaba Tepe Museum
13. Sponsors' Plaque - Kaba Tepe Museum
14. Plaques Guide Plaque - English
15. Plaques Guide Plaque - Turkish
16. Gallipoli Map - House of Commons, London
17. Gallipoli Map - Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne
18. Gallipoli Map - Queen Elizabeth II Military Museum, Wellington, New
Zealand
19. Gallipoli Map - Australian War Memorial, Canberra
GREECE AND CRETE SERIES (1991) - tells the story of Australians,
New Zealanders and British in the battles of mainland Greece and in Crete
1941.
20. Thermopylae Pass - Greece
.................................................................(Returned
& Services League Australia,
21. Hania - Crete
......................................................................................(Returned
Services Association
22. Rethymnon - Crete
..............................................................................(of
New Zealand and Air New Zealand
23. Iraklion - Crete
24. Australian War Memorial, Canberra
SINGAPORE SERIES (1992) tells the story of the battle of Singapore
and -subsequent period of captivity for Allied servicemen and women at
Changi Prison.
25. Changi Plaque - Changi Prison Main Gate
............................................................... Barclays
Bank
26. Changi Plaque - Changi Museum
27. Changi Plaque - Australian War Memorial
28. Kranji Plaque - Kranji Cemetery, Singapore
............................................................ Australian
Reinsurers
29. Kranji Plaque - Australian War Memorial
THAILAND (1992, 1994) - Burma Thailand Series - tells the story of
the suffering and achievements of Allied Prisoners of War who built the
Burma-Thailand Railway.
30. Bridge on the River Kwai (Tha Makham) Plaque
........................................ Siam Commercial Bank
31. Kanchanaburi Plaque
................................................................................
Pacific Dunlop
32. Hell Fire Pass Plaque
................................................................................
Commercial Union, UK
33. Nam Tok Plaque
.......................................................................................
Siam Commercial Bank
34. Bridge on the River Kwai Plaque - Imperial War Museum, England
35. Hell Fire Pass Plaque - Australian War Memorial
36.Three Pagodas Pass - Border
Thailand-Burma............................................ POW UK, USA
& Australia
A small series of plaques placed in Thailand to commemorate Sir Edward
Dunlop's ashes being spread on the Railway and the work to preserve the
site.
37. Dunlop Plaque - Hell Fire Pass
..................................................................... Hell
Fire Pass Fund
38. Hell Fire Pass Staircase Plaque
39. Time Capsule Plaque - Hell Fire Pass Time Capsule
BURMA SERIES (1994) - tells the story of Allied Prisoners of War
struggle in Burma.
40. Thanbyuzayat Plaque - CWG Cemetery, Thanbyuzayat, Burma
..................... Hell Fire Pass Fund
41. Time Capsule Plaque - Thanbyuzayat Cemetery
PAPUA NEW GUINEA (1992,1996) - Kokoda series tells of Australian
defence and ultimate victory over the Japanese in the Owen Stanley
Mountains, Papua New Guinea, and later with the Americans on the beaches
to the north.
I. Large Plaque Series
42. Parliament House Port Moresby Plaque
.................................................. Western Mining
Corporation
43. Sogeri and Owers Comer Plaque
............................................................ Western
Mining Corporation
44. Kokoda Village Plaque
...........................................................................
Australian Government
45. Popondetta Plaque
................................................................................
Western Mining Corporation
46. Bomana War Cemetery Plaque
.............................................................. Australian
Government
47. Kokoda Village Plaque - Australian War Memorial
II. Small Plaque Series
48. Efogi Village
.................................................................................
Western Mining Corporation
49. Templeton's Crossing II
................................................................. Western
Mining Corporation
50. Eora Creek
....................................................................................
Western Mining Corporation
51. Alola Village
..................................................................................
Western Mining Corporation
52. Isurava Village
..............................................................................
Western Mining Corporation
53. Buna Village
.................................................................................
Arrow Bronze, Melbourne
54. Sanananda Mission
........................................................................
Arrow Bronze, Melbourne
55. Gona Village
..................................................................................
Arrow Bronze, Melbourne
56. Brigade Hill
...................................................................................
Three Victorian Parliamentarians
Milne Bay series (1992) tells of the Australian and US defeat of
the Japanese at Milne Bay in 1942.
57. Alota, Milne Bay
..........................................................................
Milne Bay Tourist Authority
58. Gurney Airport, Milne Bay
............................................................ Australasian
Post and Veterans
59. Australian War Memorial
FRENCH SERIES (1993) - tells of Australia's role in the battles of
the Western Front 1916-1918. All major battlefields on which they fought
contain a plaque.
60. Villers Bretonneaux - Town Hall
......................................................... John Allison/Monkhouse
61. Villers Bretonneaux - Australian National Memorial
............................. Mt Isa Mines
62. Pozieres - Windmill Site
......................................................................
Returned & Services League Australia
63. Pozieres - Gibraltar Site - I st Division Memorial
.................................. AMP Society
64. Mont St Quentin - 2nd Division Memorial
........................................... AMP Society
65. Peronne - Historiale Museum
............................................................. Acatel,
France
66. Bullicourt - Australian Memorial
......................................................... Tony Chariton
67. Fromelles - VC Comer Cemetery
........................................................ Arrow Bronze,
Melbourne
68. Hamel - Town Hall
...........................................................................
Groupe Carbone Lorraine & Sculptor
69. Mouquet Farm
70. Villers Bretonneaux plaque - Australian War Memorial
BELGIUM SERIES (1993) - tells of Australia's role from 1916-1917 in
the fighting in Belgium during the Great War.
71. Ypres - Menin Gate
............................................................................
John Allison/Monkhouse
72. Passchendaele - Centre Village
......................................................... Habersberger
Family
73. Messines - Centre Village
................................................................... BHP
SPANISH CIVIL WAR (1993) - tells the story of Australians who
volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
74. Spanish Civil War Plaque - Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra
ISRAEL (1995) - Beer-Sheva Plaque - tells of the Australian Light
Horse and the capture of Beer-Sheva in 1917.
75. Beer-Sheva - Allenby Park, Beer-Sheva
........................................... Pioneer International Pty Ltd
76. Caulfield Park, City of Glen Eira (Melbourne)
.................................... Pioneer International Pty Ltd
77. Australian War Memorial
...................................................................
Pioneer International Pty Ltd
EGYPT (1995) - El Alamein Series - tells of Australia's major role
in the 1942 battle of El Alamein.
78. 9th Australian Division Memorial Plaque at El Alamein Commonwealth War
Graves Cemetery (English-Arabic)
................................................... 9th Aust. Div.
Veterans. Assoc. & Grollo Aust. PIL
79. Italian El Alamein Ossuary & Memorial (English & Italian)
.................. Grollo Australia Pty Ltd
80. Australian War Memorial
........................................................................
Grollo Australia Pty Ltd
PUPUA NEW GUINEA (1995) - Wewak - tells of the final campaign in
PNG fought by the Australians and Japanese in 1945.
81. Wewak Plaque
..........................................................................................
Australian Government
82. Kenna VC Plaque
.....................................................................................
Australian Government
AUSTRALIA (Melbourne) (1995) - Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop
Memorial, St Kilda Road - series of plaques which were commissioned by the
Sir Edward Dunlop Memorial Committee. The Memorial was designed by Ross
Bastiaan and centred around the sculpture of Peter Corlett of Sir Edward
Dunlop.
83. Changi Prison Medical Plaque.
84. River Kwai Medical Plaque.
85. Two plaques telling Sir Edward Dunlop's life history written for the
period from 1907-1945 and 1946-93.
A further 8 plaques were made recording the names of all Army and Navy
doctors captured by the Japanese from 1941 to 1945.
AUSTRALIA (Melbourne) (1996) - War Cabinet Rooms, St Kilda Road -
displays the disposition of Australia's armed forces during WWII and the
central role of Cabinet Rooms in these decisions.
86. War Cabinet Rooms Plaque - outside Victoria Barracks
........................... Australian Government
AUSTRALIA (Melbourne) (1996) - Melbourne Cricket Ground - tells the
history of the MCG.
87. Members' Pavilion
...................................................................................
Melbourne Cricket Club
LIBYA (Tobruk) (1996) - tells of Australia, Britain and Poland's
role in the 1942 Seige of Tobruk.
88. Tobruk Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery (English, Arabic and Polish)
.... 9th Div. Assoc., Rats of Tobruk Assoc. (Aust & UK) &
associated groups and individuals
89. Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
INDIVIDUAL PLAQUES
90. Lt L. McCarthy, VC Plaque - Vermondovilliers, France (1993)
91. Gallipoli Map (Small) - Hamilton, Victoria (1993)
............................................... Hamilton RSL
92. Gallipoli Map (Small) - Moorabbin, Melbourne (1993)
............................... Moorabbin Council
93. Gallipoli Map (Small) - Deniliquin, NSW (1993)
................................................ Delinquin RSL
94. Dunlop Plaque - City of Essendon, Melbourne (1994)
..................................... City of Essendon
95. Gallipoli Map (Small) - Wesley College, Melbourne (1996)
....................................... Sculptor
KOKODA TRAIL WALK - AUSTRALIA (Upper Ferntree Gully) (1997-98) Dandenong
Rangers National Park - location of 11 bronze plaques along the length of
One Tree Hill " 1000 steps" walking path from upper ferntree
Gully to the top of One Tree Hill.m The plaques tell the story of the
Kokoda Trail conflict and are located straticallt along the walking track.
Done in collaberation. with Parks Victoria.
96. Kokoda Trail - one metre square bronze
.................................................... WMC
97. Owers Comer - small plaque
............................................................... WMC
98. Imita Ridge - small
........................................................................
WMC
99. Brigade Hill - small
.........................................................................
WMC
100. Templeton's Crossing - small
................................................................. WMC
101. Eora Creek - small
.............................................................................
WMC
102. Alola Village - small
...........................................................................
WMC
103. Iusurava - small
.................................................................................
WMC
104. Kokoda Village - small
........................................................................
WMC
105. Introduction plaque - bottom walk
........................................................... WMC
106. Introduction plaque - top walk
............................................................... WMC
AUSTRALIA (Sydney Harbour) (1998) GULF WAR PLAQUE - commemorates
Australia's commitment to the Gulf War of 1990-1991.
107. Pott's Point - Sydney Harbour, Australia .......................
Tenix Defence Systems P/L.
108. Australian War Memorial, Canberra
....................................... Royal Australian Navy
LONDON ANZAC MEMORIAL (1998) Gallipoli Plaque
109. Gallipoli Plaque at the Anzac memorial in Battersea Park London
UNITED STATES of AMERICA (1998) Gage Accident at Cavandish
commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the famous medical case of Phedius
Gage's frontal brain damage
110. Gage Accident Plaque- center of Cavandish New Hampshire
BORNEO CAMPAIGN (1998) - tells the story of the Australian
liberation of Borneo (Kalimantan & British North Borneo) in 1945
111. Balikpapan (East Kalimantan, Indonesia) beside the 7th AIF Memorial
main road Balikpapan
112. Tarakan (East Kalimantan, Indonesia) Main entrance Tarakan Wharf,
Tarakan Island.
113. Labuan Island (Sabah, Malaysia) Surrender Point adjacent to 9th Div.
AIF Memorial.
114. Balikpapan Plaque Australian War Memorial, Canberra
SANDAKAN & RANAU DEATH MARCH PLAQUES (1998) tells the story of
the Allied POW experiences in Borneo where, under the Japanese, over 2000
died.
115. Sandakan (Sabah, Malaysia) at the entrance to the Australian Memorial
Park, Sandakan
116. Kinabalu War Memorial inside the Australian garden at the large
terraced Memorial at Kundasang, Sabah (near the village of Ranau).
117. Sandakan Plaque Australian War Memorial, Canberra
KOREAN WAR (1998) - tells the story of Australia's role in the
Korean War of 1950-53
118. United Nations Cemetery, Pusan Korea -- plaque mounted on ground just
above the Australian section of the cemetery containing the grave stones
of all the Australian's buried in Korea.
119. Kapyong Anzac Memorial, Kapyong Valley Korea - site on south side of
valley above the area of the famous 1953 battle. Site under preparation
for 50th anniversary unveiling.
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