Veterans and Tongala community members had the opportunity to view the completed Avenue of Honour during an official walk-through on Thursday, October 24.
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The final touches were still being completed a day before the walk-through was held.
The space now features a new bitumen path, a cenotaph, a centurion tank, garden beds, park benches and a board featuring the soldiers in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment who lost their lives in Vietnam.
A board honouring the soldiers who passed in Vietnam from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Among the guests of the day were the family of Robert James Gillard, a soldier from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment who died in 1968.
Mr Gillard’s older brother John Gillard said the avenue was a positive development for Tongala.
“It’s marvellous, it is lovely to come back,” he said.
“I’m amazed how well they have kept the place, when I was first here they were only little trees... It’s really a credit to [Tongala].”
John Gillard, the older brother of Robert James Gillard, a soldier from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment who passed away in 1968.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The space originally opened as a park in 2004, but in 2011, the addition of a memorial sparked the idea for a transformation.
Dallas Burrage, member of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment (Vietnam) Association, drew up a design plan that was then approved by the Tongala community.
Despite some issues in getting the plans for the park approved, a lease was eventually achieved after two and a half years and the works could begin.
The cenotaph is one of the main features of the Tongala Avenue of Honour.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Mr Burrage shared that a huge part of the park was made possible by the support of the locals.
“A vast amount of this was covered all by locals and their donations of time and good will,” he said.
“[The community] have loved it, they have been totally supportive.”
Dallas Burrage lead the walk-through of the Avenue of Honour.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The avenue cost about $200,000 to complete, $50,000 of which came solely from community groups and out of goodwill.
Mr Burrage added that the avenue would be a valuable addition for the purposes of tourism.
“It’s valuable for Tongala because tourism is always at the back of the association’s mind,” he said.
“If we do something that will get people to come here to look at something then maybe they’ll go and purchase a coffee or some fuel or stay at the BnB. That way, the town gets repaid.”
After the walk-through was completed, guests enjoyed some lunch before a street march was held to commemorate the Annual Remembrance Day for the 3rd Cavalry Regiment.
Veterans, students and soldiers from the 3/4 Cavalry Regiment based at Puckapunyal proceeded down the main street to the national cavalry memorial where the service was held.
The march also included two M113AS4 tanks with one at the front of the procession and another following behind.
Kyabram P-12 students kept the pace of the march.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Tongala Primary School was part of the march, holding their Australian flags.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Two M113AS4 tanks joined the procession.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Veterans proudly marched behind the school students.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Dallas Burrage, Ken Jones and David Masters all shared words during the ceremony.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Rob Amos lays a wreath during the ceremony.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Soldiers from the 3/4 Cavalry Regiment based at Puckapunyal.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
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