THE Legacy Torch Relay isn’t coming to Korumburra, despite the fact that Stan Savige, the founder of that august returned services organisation, spent all of his formative years in the town.
But the occasion of the centenary of Legacy won’t go unnoticed here all the same.
While the centenary torch relay travels through Victoria during September, as the main event in six months of celebrations, to places like Mildura on Tuesday, September 5, Horsham on September 7, Ararat, Hamilton, Warrnambool, Colac, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, the Mornington Peninsula on September 27 and other places with no obvious connection to Savige, beyond having a Legacy branch locally, Korumburra has fashioned its own commemoration.
At 11am on Sunday, September 10, in between visits by the torch to Ararat on September 9 and Hamilton on September 11, President of South Gippsland Legacy, Phil Head, will welcome those connected with Legacy in the local district, and the general community, to an event at Coleman Park, near the cenotaph in Queen Street, Korumburra.
Here the crucial role played by Sir Stanley Savige in the establishment of Legacy, one of Australia’s most important services’ welfare organisations, will be acknowledged in perpetuity.
A light lunch will follow.
The closest the torch will get to Korumburra will be on Thursday, September 28 when it travels to and from Sale, presumably along the Princes Highway.
The Korumburra service follows the main event of the year for Legacy fundraising, Legacy Week from August 27 to September 2, where the sale of badges and other initiatives raise much-needed funds for the 43,000 partners and children of veterans who risked their lives serving our country.
Russell Broadbent weighs in
On Thursday, August 10, Monash MP Russell Broadbent spoke in Federal Parliament about the Korumburra commemoration.
“South Gippsland Legacy Group is marking the centenary of the wider Legacy movement with a commemoration at Coleman Park, Korumburra, on Saturday, September 10. Commencing in the aftermath of World War I, Legacy assists the widows and families of veterans. The beautiful town of Korumburra in my electorate is significant in Legacy's story because its founder, war hero Lieutenant-General Sir Stanley Savige, spent his formative years there attending Korumburra Primary School.
“Sir Stanley is honoured by the Stan Savige memorial gates at Coleman Park, which is the site of Korumburra's cenotaph. These gates were erected in 1955 by the Rotary Club of Korumburra, with incoming rotary district governor Bill Burch unveiling the commemorative plaque. Bill was also a founding member of South Gippsland Legacy.
“The 2023 commemoration will begin with a march of veterans from the Lone Pine planted by Legacy in the park in 1981, through the memorial gates, to an adjoining Scout hall. That is symbolic too because the young Stan Savige was a Scout.
“Marchers will be led by pipers and flag-bearers, one of whom will be South Gippsland Legacy Group president legatee Phil Head. The entrance to the hall will be flanked by two life sized wire figures—one a soldier, the other a nurse. These have been crafted by legatees Tom and Sue Loughridge of Loch, who, between them, have served South Gippsland Legacy for nearly 70 years.
“A commemorative plaque will be unveiled by long-standing South Gippsland legatee and Vietnam veteran Perry Neil of Korumburra. A talented woodworker, Perry made the lectern to be used on the day for the 1999 golden anniversary of South Gippsland Legacy. Created from blackwood grown on the local farm of a World War I digger, the lectern also features scales from the Lone Pine tree in Gallipoli.
“Some of the Legacy group's 180 widows drawn from Phillip Island to Foster will be attending the commemoration, as will descendants of Sir Stanley. Widows will be invited to light a candle in memory of their husbands, and pipers will play a lament during this part of the proceedings.
“Legatees Jane Ross and Kathie Surridge, the daughters of founding members of South Gippsland Legacy Bill Ross and Bluey Reilly, will also honour their legacy with candles. Bill was a legatee for 60 years
“Current legatees say they are standing on the shoulders of giants. Indeedt, they are. Lest we forget. I thank the amazing Jane Ross for pulling this piece together in celebration of Legacy's commemoration,” Mr Broadbent said.
