Bushmaster – Bendigo built This is BM1 or Bushmaster 001. Bushmaster 001 is actually the second Bushmaster build by Thales Australia (formally ADI) here in Bendigo, with the first vehicle remaining ADI property and later being converted to a ute variant. This was 1 of 3 vehicles developed and built for the trial and… Continue reading Bushmaster
GEOFFREY CHARLES MURRAY – VIETNAM Geoffrey Charles Murray was born in Carlton on December 13th 1939 and was placed into the care of the St Vincent de Paul Orphanage in South Melbourne when he was 10 years old. He believes that the discipline and restraint he learnt growing up there put him in good stead… Continue reading Geoffrey Charles Murray – VIETNAM
FREDERICK GARDNER DAVEY – WW2 Frederick Gardner Davey, born in Bendigo on July 23rd 1917, is a true local hero with a remarkable story of service during World War II. Fred attended school in Bendigo and prior to enlisting he worked at the local Hume & Iser. In 1939, at the age of 22, Fred… Continue reading Frederick Gardner Davey WW2
GLADYS ELVA MOLE – WW2 Gladys Elva Mole was born on December 8th 1913, in Swan Hill, and trained as a nurse in Bendigo. On May 9th 1940, at the age of 26, she enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) alongside a group of Sisters from the local hospital, embarking on a journey… Continue reading Gladys Elva Mole WW2
JACK GRINTON – WW1 John William ‘Jack’ Grinton was born in Kerang on February 14th 1893 and was the oldest of 7 siblings born to Hughina and John Grinton. Before the war he worked on the family farm, known as ‘The Wattles’. He enlisted in Bendigo on February 3rd 1916, just days after his 17… Continue reading Jack Grinton – WW2
The Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire This is a scale 1 to 1 model of a British Mark VIII Supermarine Spitfire built by Calvert Hargreaves of Kangaroo Flat and could be seen on the front lawn of his home for many years. It has been repainted symbolically with the RAAF’s 457 Squadron “sharks teeth”. The Grey… Continue reading The Spitfire
The Leopard Tank The Leopard Main Battle TankA troop of MK2 Leopard tanks came from 1Armoured Regiment, Puckapunyal and accompanied the troops from Fortuna Army Survey Regiment on their Freedom of the City Parade through the streets of Bendigo in 1983 travelling down Mitchell Street and along Pall Mall for the salute outside the Soldiers… Continue reading Leopard Tank
The Sea Mine Mark XVII The sea mine essentially comprises of two 40 inch (102cm) diameter spheres joined by an 8 inch (20cm) belt. The mine is 48 inches (122cm) high.The MK 17 sea mine can be held at a calculated depth beneath the surface by a cable or a mooring chain that is attached… Continue reading Sea Mine
The General Service Wagon The British horse drawn general service wagon started circa 1860. It had two or more horses and it could be driven from a box seat or by mounted drivers on the horses.The Mark X and XI patterns were produced in Great Britain in 1905.The average wagon length was 2.7m and was… Continue reading Service Wagon
The Centurion Tank The Centurion Main Battle Tank (nicknamed “Bullwinkle”)This particular Centurion was prepared for war in Vietnam but did not leave Australia. Australia had 143 Centurions of all variants including battle tanks, recovery vehicles, bridge layers and tank dozersThe Centurion Tank was purchased by the Bendigo District RSL on the 14th June 2007 Model: Mark… Continue reading Centurion Tank
