The 1.8-metre tall Chinese-made statue has been placed in a Rutherglen park, facing the town’s cenotaph.

Rutherglen RSL sub-branch secretary David Martin said the life-size piece resulted from the organisation receiving a federal government grant to mark the centenary of World War I.

The $8000 grant was supplemented by $7000 raised via the sub-branch conducting a raffle at the Winery Walkabout and donations.

“We did get a grant as part of the centenary of Anzac program in 2013 and we decided to use it on a statue,” Mr Martin said.

“It’s just to reflect on the soldiers and volunteers from Rutherglen.

“There are 115 that died and their names are on our cenotaph.

“He’s now a guardian of the cenotaph, he’s a sentry overlooking it.”

The digger was modelled on similar statues across Australia, but Mr Martin said there were some individual touches.

They included a gold leaf hat badge and collar badge, the bayonet and .303 rifle.

Mr Martin said the figure was designed by Border firm Memorials in Stone, but made in China.

“It was going to cost three times as much if we had it done here,” he said.

“It’s cut out of one block and it’s computer-generated – they get the information and then cut the thing out.”

The 700-kilogram statue will be officially unveiled on Saturday morning by the director of the Australian War Memorial and former federal Liberal Party leader Brendan Nelson.

The occasion will involve the statue being blessed by Rutherglen clergy as well other military rituals.

They include the firing of volleys, the reading of the Ode to Remembrance and playing of The Last Post.

Mr Martin said he was thrilled with the appearance of the statue and the feedback he had received ahead of the unveiling.

“It’s excellent, it’s above my expectations and the comments so far show that people are really impressed,” he said.

Saturday’s event, which will be attended by Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne, will be held from 11am.