A TOWERING IMAGE OF A GREAT AUSTRALIAN
A WATER TOWER MURAL IN COUNTRY VICTORIA PAYS TRIBUTE TO SIR JOHN MONASH
When engineer and citizen-soldier John Monash designed a water tower for the small Victorian township of Tatura , 167km north of Melbourne , prior to World War I , he could never have imagined that more than 100 years later the tower would carry an immense image of him as a World War I soldier .
Monash ( SC 1877-81 ) designed the 364,000 litre capacity tower in May 1911 for the Tatura Waterworks Trust ( now Goulburn Valley Water ), and construction was completed in April 1912 . It is the earliest surviving example of a reinforced concrete tower of its kind in Victoria . Every drop of water used in Tatura is still reticulated through the tower .
Inspired by artworks included in Victoria ’ s 200km Silo Art Trail , $ 45,000 was raised locally through government grants and community fundraising , led by members of the Tatura Returned Services League , and Rotary , supported by local residents .
The mural was created by artists Cam Scale and Andrew Davis , and features a waterfall of poppies on the opposite side of the tower , as a tribute to the region ’ s Anzac legacy . Signage honours the site ’ s history , tells the story of water supply to Tatura over the years , and honours the life and legacy of Sir John Monash .
Three and a half years in the making , with delays caused by COVID and bad weather , the mural was officially unveiled on 27 June 2021 in the presence of local dignitaries , RSL representatives , Tatura residents and Michael Bennett ( SC 1968-73 ), Sir John ’ s greatgrandson and a member of the General Sir John Monash Foundation . The foundation provides postgraduate scholarships for outstanding Australians to further their studies anywhere in the world .
Mr Bennett said : ‘ I think it ’ s wonderful that there will be a lasting tribute in Tatura to Sir John ’ s achievements as an engineer , soldier and nation-builder , and that people can continue to learn about his legacy , particularly in regard to his pioneering work in prestressed concrete for water towers like this , for generations to come ’.
Robert Mathieson , Tatura Sub-Branch Mural Committee Chairman , said the project honours the region ’ s history and is a colourful addition to the town ’ s landscape . ‘ It will add to the town ’ s vitality , and we hope it will draw more people to visit Tatura ,’ he said .
TOP : MICHAEL BENNETT (’ 73 ) WITH HIS WIFE KATE STOCKWIN , WHO IS A MUSIC TEACHER AT SCOTCH
THIS PHOTO : ARTISTS CAM SCALE AND ANDREW DAVIS AT WORK ON THE MONASH MURAL .
BELOW : A WATER- FALL OF POPPIES ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TOWER – A TRIBUTE TO THE TATURA REGION ’ S ANZAC LEGACY
BELOW RIGHT : MICHAEL BENNETT (’ 73 ) SPEAKS AT THE OFFICIAL UNVEILING OF THE TATURA WATER TOWER MURAL
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