The mystery behind the honour board that was dropped off at the Shepparton RSL last week has started to become clearer.
The board that was found during a shed clean out belonged to the Shepparton branch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The names on the honour board are of soldier members of the Shepparton IOOF lodge, with records dating back to the lodge’s inception in 1880 until 1933.
It was unveiled at the Public Hall on Monday, February 21, 1921 — the event being reported in an article by the Shepparton Advertiser on Thursday, February 24, 1921 — making the board more than 100 years old.
“Comradeship was hearty, there was the firm grip of fellowship on all sides, but through all one could not help observing that there was that ‘feeling of sadness and sorrow’,” the article read.
“Their sorrow was deep for the ones who had laid down their lives.”
A descendant of one of the men named on the honour board, Xavier Segafredo recognised one of the names.
“The name L. J. Michel belongs to my great-grandfather Louis James Michel. He served in France, joining in 1916,” he said.
“He was president of the (Shepparton RSL) sub-branch for 20 years and made a life member.
“He was a strong advocate of the soldier settlement scheme and was awarded an MBE for services to the cause.”
Louis James Michel’s son (and Mr Segafredo’s grandfather), Louis Tasman Michel, lived in Yalca, then Nathalia, with his wife, Mona.
“Louis and Mona Michel had six children, all living in Greater Shepparton today,” Mr Segafredo said.
When Mona passed away she left a legacy of 38 grandchildren, and 52 great-grandchildren.
Mr Segafredo now lives in Camperdown, but his roots are deep in Shepparton, and is still a member of the ‘Shepparton Red Roosters’.
The Roosters are a group of alumni from district high schools including Shepparton High School, South Tech College on Wilmot Rd and St Coleman’s College — which is now Notre Dame — and the under 18s Shepparton United premiership football team of 1980.
Mr Segafredo speculates that there is more to this honour board than what was found in that cluttered shed, based on descriptions from news articles from more than 100 years ago.
“The physical board has these horizontal protrusions top and particularly bottom, which appear to enable it to be attached to something,” he said.