By REBECCA BILLS
TO COMMEMORATE the centenary of the 55th Australian Infantry Battalion (Collingwood Regiment), the Mount Evelyn RSL is putting a framed collage of photos on display.
The frame, filled with century-old pictures, is a pictorial record of the event that took place on 19 April 1914 and shows citizen militia soldiers being presented with regimental and King’s colours at Victoria Park in Collingwood.
Mount Evelyn RSL secretary Anthony McAleer said the item has been in the Mount Evelyn RSL’s collection for many years and as the centenary of the event is coming up in the next few weeks, the membership wanted to put the frame on public display.
Mr McAleer said in attendance on that day was Inspector-General of the Overseas Forces, General Sir Ian Hamilton – one of the British Empire’s most distinguished soldiers.
“Earlier in 1914 he had come out to Lilydale to inspect troops of the 13th Infantry Brigade under the command of Colonel John Monash who were camped where the Lillydale Lake is today,” he said.
“Also present at the Collingwood event was the Governor Sir Arthur Stanley, the Archbishop of Melbourne and a number of officers from the Australian Defence Force.
“There are quite a number of photos in the frame that detail what happened on the day.
The Mount Evelyn Community Bank will be displaying the collage until after Anzac Day.
Branch manager Leanne Vaytauer said the bank is honoured to have been asked by the RSL to house the piece while it is on display to the public.
“They believed this was the best spot to have it on display as everybody knows where we are,” she said.
“It is a wonderful collage and just fantastic to look at.”
