Related:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
FAMILY members of decorated war hero Albert David Lowerson have been moved to tears by the unveiling of a statue in his honour.
About 300 people gathered at Myrtleford yesterday to see the tribute to “Alby” revealed.
The World War I soldier earned the Victoria Cross — the highest Australian military honour — for storming a strongpoint protected by 12 machine guns on September 1, 1918, at Mont Saint Quentin.
He took seven men and captured the strongpoint and 30 prisoners.
He refused to leave the front line until the position was consolidated despite being severely wounded in the thigh.
His daughter Frances Durnan was overcome with emotion as a bronze statue was unveiled.
“I think my father won’t be forgotten,” she said.
“He was a very brave man.
“The people of Myrtleford really respect him for what he did.
“It’s a great honour and it will be a great memory.”
Fairfax has compiled more than 1000 Faces of Anzacs from you, our readers, as a tribute to the men and women who served our country in the name of freedom. You can read their stories at the link above.
As a tribute to our soldiers Fairfax has compiled a wall honouring 1000 Faces of Anzacs who fought and died for our freedom. You can read their stori
Alby, who was born in 1896, had enlisted in 1915.
He received the Victoria Cross from King George V in 1919 and worked as a dairy and tobacco farmer at Myrtleford after the war.
He re-enlisted for WWII but his injuries prevented him from returning to fight overseas.
He died of leukaemia in 1945, aged 49.
His grandson Mark Durnan said seeing the bronze statue unveiled was a proud moment for family members who had travelled from as far away as Queensland to attend the event.
“It’s just overwhelming,” he said.
“I’m so proud.
“We saw it when it was at the foundry and the finished product is sensational.”
The statue was created by sculptor Lis Johnson over a period of nine months at Northcote.
Local identity Tiff Rayner said the statue of his great-uncle would “put Myrtleford on the stage”.
“I’ve had a campaign going for about 50 years and today is the culmination of that,” he said.
“When you’ve lived as long as I have with a famous uncle, to see him acknowledged in such a way, it really gives you a kick.
“It was important to me and important to other members of the family because it’s something other communities were also doing.”
Former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer called for three cheers for Alby when he unveiled the statue.
“Albert Lowerson was a gold prospector locally and was a solid gold hero of World War I,” he said.