The Kiwi Anzac on the bridge is taller than his Digger mate...

This is a follow up to an earlier story of mine about the addition of a statue of a Kiwi soldier to join his Digger mate on Anzac Bridge in Sydney, Australia.

There is a humorous twist to the tale regarding recent comments from the sculptor, Alan Somerville. He said with a grin, he hasn't forgotten his New Zealad origins and as a consequence he will make the Kiwi soldier 5cm or two inches taller than his Digger mate.

Eight years afer the four metre high statue of the Australian World War 1 soldier was revealed, he will be joined by a Kiwi mate on guard at the bridge.

At the time of writing, the new sculpture is being prepared in Alan Somerville's workshop.

On April 27 2008, two days after Anzac Day, NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark and New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma will unveil Dunedin born sculptor Alan Somerville's work. Someville emigrated to Australia in 1988.

The two soldiers will face each other across the bridge, the Kiwi facing east and the rising sun; and will be distinguished by their hats - the "lemon squeezer" of the Kiwi, and the Aussie in his famed slouch hat. A jar of sand from Gallipoli will be placed inside the plinth where the Kiwi soldier stands.

Read earlier story

Elly's picture

Good for you djbtol

on being diligent and doing some research!

Elly

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huttriver12's picture

Thanks for your interest...

and remember our involvement in WW1 and 2 was because we are members of the Commonwealth and former colonies of Britain. There is a famous phrase used by our PM, Peter Fraser, during WW2. In brief,"Where Britain goes,we go." No more! Like adult children we were kicked out of home and told to stand on our two feet, when Britain joined the EEC and we were forced to get out into the world and find new markets. Forty years later and NZ signs an FTA with China, of all countries.

And the ANZAC bond actually grows stronger as our grandchildren discover, support and want to be part of it, in both countries.

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Sooner or later

time does bring change, and sometimes lots of it. Were you given the option of joining the EEC, or was that not even an option?

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huttriver12's picture

No, that's a European thing...

that has developed from just trade to political union - the EU. We are struggling to retain some of the rights of entry to the UK that we have always had, but have been changed - the CHANGE thing again.

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ANZAC

I have never spent a lot of time reading about history and war, but as I've aged a bit it sure is interesting. My uneducated concept of WWII was that NZ and Australia were probably able to stay out of it. This concept was probably based on your geographic location.

Obviously I was wrong and I'm glad you told us about this monument. A quick Google landed me at a page about the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. The addition of the monument for New Zealand is certainly appropriate, and overdue.

ANZAC

djbtol

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