Standing in a quiet corner of Murchison Cemetery is the Ossario, the last resting place of 130 Italian prisoners of war and internees who died in this country during World War II.
Their names are recorded on two metal tablets in the sanctuary and among them are 36 civilian internees, 73 privates, two sergeants, one sergeant-major, three corporals, three lieutenants, two majors, three corporal majors, two captains, three marshals and two seamen.
One of the internees was a woman, and there is also an eight-day-old baby boy.
Sometime after Italian migration to Australia commenced in the post-war years, Murchison Cemetery began to be a place of pilgrimage.
Luigi Gigliotti of Kyabram proposed that the bodies of all Italian prisoners of war and internees, who died during their incarceration in Australia during the war, should be brought to the one burial place.
Murchison was chosen and bodies were brought from all over Australia to their final resting place.
Now, every year on Remembrance Sunday, a service is conducted at the Ossario before a crowd of visitors from Australia and overseas.
During the ceremony, flowers are laid on the memorial in memory of those whose remains lie there.
Murchison and District Historical Society president Kay Ball said this year’s service saw around 200 people gather and remember the 130 Italians who died.
“It was a lovely sunny day, with a clear blue sky and gentle breeze that added to the special atmosphere that always prevails at the Ossario,” Mrs Ball said.
“People had travelled from Melbourne, surrounding country towns and from interstate.
“The procession of Italian men and women in military uniforms, civilians and school children carrying flags and banners made a colourful scene as they proceeded down the central path to the Ossario.
“Floral tributes on the monument to the right of the forecourt area were then placed.”
The newly appointed Italian Consul General for Victoria and Tasmania, Chiara Mauri, gave the official address.
“Her words were moving and respectful of those who have been affected by war in so many ways,” Mrs Ball said.
Students from Murchison Primary School, Toolamba Primary School, St Anne’s Catholic College and Greater Shepparton Secondary College were also in attendance.
“It was particularly heart-warming to have local school children attending carrying flags and placing flowers,” Mrs Ball said.
“It added to the positive ambience and represented a hope that these people who lie in the Ossario will not be forgotten in future years.”