The project to have a life size bronze statue of a 12 year-old John Monash meeting Ned Kelly with his horse is almost completed.
The Jerilderie project began in 2020. It was initiated by four local ladies - Irene Wells, Helen Huggins, Sue Neilan and Gwen McLaughlin - and encouraged by the late Tim Fischer, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.
Mr Fischer was adamant that something should be done to remember this piece of Jerilderie’s history.
General Sir John Monash was, arguably, Australia’s greatest soldier.
He attended Jerilderie Public School, where he was Dux.
He then went on for further education at Scotch College, Melbourne, where he was joint Dux in his final year.
After he passed away in 1931, more than 300,000 people lined the streets of Melbourne as his funeral procession passed, reflecting the esteem in which he was held.
The statue will depict a young Monash accepting a shilling from Ned Kelly, as payment for holding his horse while he conducted business with Monash senior.
This meeting was written about in Roland Perry’s book Monash, The Outsider Who Won A War, and was said to have taken place about a year before the raid on Jerilderie.
With no access to federal or state government funding, financial support for the project has come from far and wide.
The organising committee say Jerilderie Apex, Yanco Delta Wind Farm and Elders have been major supporters.
Renowned sculptor, Brett (Mon) Garling was engaged to produce the statue.
Because of Brett’s love of history, and knowing that the sculpture would be unique to Jerilderie, he has been donating much of his own time to the project which is now valued at over $500,000.
The statue is now almost completed, with an unveiling ceremony to take place on November 17.
Entertainment on the day will commence mid-morning, with the unveiling ceremony expected to start about 2pm.