In 1998, some 40 2/14th veterans returned to the area of the Isurava battle site to pay respect to fallen comrades. The pilgrimage was known as “The Last Parade”. As a result of the “Last Parade”, veterans put forward a proposal that there should be built a permanent memorial to commemorate the Battle of Isurava which at that time, was little known or remembered in the annuls of Australian military history. The veterans also wished to remember those who fought and died there as well as creating a ‘living memorial” to benefit the local Isurava people.
The inaugural meeting of the Isurava memorial Committee was held at Jim Coy’s house at Port Melbourne on 29.9.2000.
The aims of the committee were to:
Those appointed to the Committee as a result of the inaugural meeting were:
Veterans:
Roy Watson
Lt Col Phil Rhoden OBE Ed
Stan Bisset MC
Col Blume
Kinfolk/Supporters:
Dr Margaret Lindorff
Ian Hopley
Ross Clover
Wayne Rotherham
In PNG:
John Rennie
John Meehan
Bob Shaw
WO2 David West
Koiari People and elders
The recce party consisting of veterans of the 2/14th and 39th Batallions and kinfolk and supporters was organised to travel to PNG and locate the site.
The group travelled to PNG between 29 Sept 2000 and 5 October 2000 and the Isurava area all at their own expense. In conjunction with the local people, after extensive interviewing of the veterans on their recollections, study and searching, the group successfully located and identified the Isurava battle site including the approximate site of the Bruce Kingsbury Victoria Cross action.
The recce party consisted of:
Veterans:
2/14th
Stan Bisset
Roy Watson
Matt power
Col Blume
Con Vapp
39th
Doug McClean
Ken Phelan
Kinfolk/Supporters/Organisers
Ian Hopley
Wayne Rotherham
Dr. Marg Lindorff
Ian Blume
Garry Vapp
Dr. Clyde Ronan
Ross Clover
Phil Clover
Sue Monks
In PNG:
John Rennie
John Meehan
W02 David West
Rick Stanford
Justice Boputo (RPNGC)
The committee then embarked on an ambitious plan to place a permanent memorial at the site. Fund raising was commenced and consultation made with the local people and possible donors. Many letters were written and forwarded seeking support.
In 2001, Wayne Rotherham and Dr. Margaret Lindorff representing veterans of the 39th Battalion and 2/14th Battalion flew to Canberra and consulted with the AWGC who were contemplating commemorating the 60th anniversary of a number of battles in PNG and elsewhere.
Advice was received in 2002 that the AWGC in conjunction with the Australian Government had appointed architects Hewitt Pender and Associates to build a suitable and lasting memorial at the Isurava battle site. The memorial has since won a number of design awards and is now both the focal point and perhaps the most recognised area of the Kokoda Track.
The memorial was officially opened by Prime Minister John Howard and PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare 14 August, 2002 accompanied by a number of veterans including the 2/14th’s Col Blume and Matt Power.
The memorial you see today at Isurava today is a direct result of a small group of veterans and their families, supporters and the local Isurava people who had the dream and vision of wishing to commemorate the often overlooked battle of Isurava, the mateship, courage, sacrifice and endurance of those involved, both Australians and Papua New Guineans to remember fallen colleagues.
The inaugural meeting of the Isurava memorial Committee was held at Jim Coy’s house at Port Melbourne on 29.9.2000.
The aims of the committee were to:
- Locate the site of the battle of Isurava that took place between 26-29 August 1942
- To have the battle site gazetted as an historical site and appear on maps
- To plan a suitable memorial in the Isurava area to remember those who fought and paid the supreme sacrifice during this battle
- Provide the local people with a living memorial
Those appointed to the Committee as a result of the inaugural meeting were:
Veterans:
Roy Watson
Lt Col Phil Rhoden OBE Ed
Stan Bisset MC
Col Blume
Kinfolk/Supporters:
Dr Margaret Lindorff
Ian Hopley
Ross Clover
Wayne Rotherham
In PNG:
John Rennie
John Meehan
Bob Shaw
WO2 David West
Koiari People and elders
The recce party consisting of veterans of the 2/14th and 39th Batallions and kinfolk and supporters was organised to travel to PNG and locate the site.
The group travelled to PNG between 29 Sept 2000 and 5 October 2000 and the Isurava area all at their own expense. In conjunction with the local people, after extensive interviewing of the veterans on their recollections, study and searching, the group successfully located and identified the Isurava battle site including the approximate site of the Bruce Kingsbury Victoria Cross action.
The recce party consisted of:
Veterans:
2/14th
Stan Bisset
Roy Watson
Matt power
Col Blume
Con Vapp
39th
Doug McClean
Ken Phelan
Kinfolk/Supporters/Organisers
Ian Hopley
Wayne Rotherham
Dr. Marg Lindorff
Ian Blume
Garry Vapp
Dr. Clyde Ronan
Ross Clover
Phil Clover
Sue Monks
In PNG:
John Rennie
John Meehan
W02 David West
Rick Stanford
Justice Boputo (RPNGC)
The committee then embarked on an ambitious plan to place a permanent memorial at the site. Fund raising was commenced and consultation made with the local people and possible donors. Many letters were written and forwarded seeking support.
In 2001, Wayne Rotherham and Dr. Margaret Lindorff representing veterans of the 39th Battalion and 2/14th Battalion flew to Canberra and consulted with the AWGC who were contemplating commemorating the 60th anniversary of a number of battles in PNG and elsewhere.
Advice was received in 2002 that the AWGC in conjunction with the Australian Government had appointed architects Hewitt Pender and Associates to build a suitable and lasting memorial at the Isurava battle site. The memorial has since won a number of design awards and is now both the focal point and perhaps the most recognised area of the Kokoda Track.
The memorial was officially opened by Prime Minister John Howard and PNG Prime Minister Michael Somare 14 August, 2002 accompanied by a number of veterans including the 2/14th’s Col Blume and Matt Power.
The memorial you see today at Isurava today is a direct result of a small group of veterans and their families, supporters and the local Isurava people who had the dream and vision of wishing to commemorate the often overlooked battle of Isurava, the mateship, courage, sacrifice and endurance of those involved, both Australians and Papua New Guineans to remember fallen colleagues.
