On 28 August 2015 a life-sized bronze statue of a woman was unveiled in Victory Park, Ascot Vale, in honour of the enduring sacrifice made by women who cared for veterans of World War I. She was named Rosemary, after the traditional emblem of remembrance, the rosemary plant. The statue was commissioned by the group Women Caring for Veterans of War and funded by a Commonwealth Government ANZAC Centenary grant and the Moonee Valley Council.
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The original Rosemary statue.
Image: City of Moonee Valley
Over night on 19 January 2016, Rosemary was stolen, cut off at the ankles, leaving only the feet on the stone plinth. The Moneee Valley Council worked quickly to replace the statue with one made of thicker more robust material and new Rosemary was unveiled 14 March 2017.
All that remained of the Rosemary statute.
Image: 3AW Breakfast Twitter account
The replacement Rosemary.
Image: City of Moonee Valley
Rosemary is an exquisite statue and stands as a memorial to women everywhere, who cared and still care for service men and women who have been injured both physically and psychologically through war service. It was a callous and disrespectful act to destroy the original.
Should you have any information about the original Rosemary statute, please leave a comment below or see 'Contact us' tab for anonymous emailing.
Should you actually possess the item and wish to return it its rightful owners or custodians, please contact us.
References
- 3AW Rumour File: Heartless thieves cut Ascot Vale tribute at the ankles, 20 January 2016, read
- Memorial to Women War carers stolen from Ascot Vale Park by Craig Butt. The Age 21 January 2016, read
- ‘Despicable’ thieves steal tribute statue from Ascot Vale park by Kara Irving. The Herald Sun 21 January 2016, read
- Replica statue on its way to replace stole Ascot Vale War memorial by Linh Ly. Moonee Valley Leader 25 May, 2016, read
- Essendon Historical Society newsletter April-May 2018, page 10 read
- Monument Australia Women Carers of World War One Veterans, read
- Moonee Valley Family and Local History Blog: Where did Rosemary go? read
Interestingly, in all the information on the Rosemary statue, the sculptor is not mentioned. We would be interested to know who it was to give them their rightful credit.
