By Peter Douglas
The designs for the anticipated Seville War Memorial were unfurled to a respectful crowd within the township on Tuesday 11 April.
The public and descendants of local Anzacs joined community leaders for the launch.
In what has been billed as a “war memorial for the 21st century”, the designs didn’t disappoint.
The memorial, which will be built near the Seville Water Play Park, will comprise four glass panels that will stand an imposing 4m high.
Each panel seeks to pay tribute to the town’s war history.
Among those to feature on the panels will be hometown hero Captain George Ingram VC MM, who is the Yarra Valley’s only Victoria Cross recipient.
Other individuals to feature at the memorial will be Trooper George Cassidy.
Yarra Ranges councillor Tony Stevenson said Trooper Cassidy’s story was one that needed to be kept alive.
“Trooper Cassidy was 18 when he enlisted from Seville in the Australian Lighthorse in 1917,” Cr Stevenson said.
“He was sent to the Middle East as reinforcement for the 4th Australian Lighthorse Regiment, who were the famous Chargers of Beersheba.
“He was with them through all their battles in Palestine and Jordan, before he returned to Seville where he lived the rest of his life.”
Cr Steven also told the story of Private Hubert Read, who will also feature on the panels.
“‘Bert’, as he was known, was only 22 when he enlisted in 1914, then sent overseas to Egypt with the 6th Battalion.
“He was at the landing of Gallipoli on that first Anzac Day, and in the first tense weeks of Anzac Cove.”
Like many of the panels, Private Read’s image will be complemented by contents and landscapes that help to tell his story.
Next to him, in the panel, will be a letter he penned to his sister, which finishes with a light-hearted dig that “he’d been living in the trenches so long that he could build one in Seville for them to live in”.
The designs seek to bring to life the wider picture of the town’s war history.
Thus, they will include Seville’s Roll of Honour, with a list of those who were born or resided in Seville before they died during active service.
From World War I, 15 names feature on that roll.
On another panel, there will be an image of a ‘Welcome Home’ function in the Seville Public Hall after World War I, which will display a poem that was written for Captain Ingram’s return.
Among those to praise the designs were Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe and Federal Casey MP Tony Smith, who both acknowledged the workmanship and dedication from those involved.
SMAQ Design Collaborations has been entrusted with the task of bringing to life the memorial, with local historian Anthony McAleer praising their efforts.
“They’ve taken the concept of the traditional cenotaph memorial and modernised it,” he said.
“This memorial won’t just be a list of names in stone.
“It will pay tribute to those from Seville – who served, suffered and died for our nation – by giving detail through words and images, by telling their stories in a heartfelt and emotive way.”
Mr McAleer said it will be not just a memorial, but a public work of art in its own right.
