The Soil was officially Turned by Jim McDonnell and Gordon (Dinger) Bell, Veterans from Gundagai.
Last week’s Turning of the Soil Ceremony held in Carberry Park, officially marked the beginning of the significant project to honour Gundagai’s VC recipient Private Richard Norden, with dignitaries including Michael McCormack MP, Steph Cooke MP and Mayor Abb McAlister, Veterans, Norden family members, school students and community members in attendance to signify the start of this important twelve months.
The site where a life-sized bronze sculpture of Richard Norden and Joe Kelly will be erected in Gundagai next year, was turned by Jim McDonnell and Gordon (Dinger) Bell, Veterans from Gundagai.
One of Australia’s oldest VC recipients, Keith Payne who is 91, also travelled to Gundagai to attend the ceremony.
Dorothy Mulvihill, Richard Norden’s cousin said it is wonderful to finally get the recognition, even though it has taken a long time.
“It’s an amazing day. Richard and I grew up together as kids, just ordinary kids playing over there in Mount Street behind the house, and to see what he has done has been amazing. He is so brave, and to come back here and then to be killed in Canberra, is just unbelievable to think someone could give so much.”
“He was a family man with two boys, and everyone is just so proud that this has happened. I know that Aunty Rita (Richard’s mother) would be up there, smiling,” Dorothy said.
“It’s lovely to see all these Gundagai people here and the schools, and one of Richard’s grand nephews, Reo is at the high school, and what an amazing story Reo has to tell his family,” Dorothy said.
“We are ever so grateful to finally get the recognition for Richard,” Dorothy said.
Michael McCormack addressed the crowd on the importance of honouring ANZAC legacy and said he was pleased to see so many members of the Gundagai community and visitors from far and wide turn out for the ceremony.
“It took 56 years for Richard to be properly recognised and acknowledged like he deserved. For going into no man’s land time and time again, no fear of the bullets that were whizzing around him, no fear of the enemy – risking his life to save others and to do the job that he had been taught to do,” Michael McCormack said.
“It is the job of young people to keep the ANZAC story going. It is their job to keep the torch burning brightly for the ANZAC legend. The ANZAC legend goes way back to Gallipoli but will endure in the statue that we are going to erect here, in this special place, in this special town, in this special part of Australia for a very, very special Australian, Richard Norden VC,” Michael McCormack said.
“Well done to all involved, particularly Paul Vercoe and the Gundagai RSL Sub-Branch, in getting this wonderful initiative to this important milestone which will help forever cement Richard Norden’s heroism in Gundagai’s main street,” Michael McCormack said.
Mayor Abb McAlister said Richard Norden is a true hero and commended everyone involved for their work on the project.
“Richard is a true hero; to be able to have a memorial honouring Richard and the Coral/Balmoral Battle and the Veterans from that Battle, sends a tingle up your spine. To everyone involved and everyone working on this project, we thank you,” said Abb.
Richard Norden was born and raised in Gundagai and enlisted in the Australian Army in 1966 at the age of 18. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross medal for his bravery during the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral in Vietnam in 1968. On 14 May 1968, Private Norden’s platoon came under heavy fire during the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral. Using his initiative and demonstrating a depth of care for his mates, Private Norden rescued a wounded soldier and recovered the body of another, with little cover and under intense enemy fire. His actions also secured the enemy position and avoided the potential for further casualties of platoon members. Private Norden’s service to his country continued when he returned to Australia and became an Australian Capital Territory police officer. He died at the young age of 24 following a traffic accident while he was on duty in October 1972.
-Emily Flint
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