Great Scot September 2018 Gt Scot_154_September_online

During the difficult times, Monash found engineering work through his friend, James Bannatyne Lewis (SC 1870-73), on Princes Bridge. This gave him two years’ invaluable experience that led to his 1888 appointment in charge of the construction of the Outer Circle railway line, the completion of which he capably oversaw over three years. Retrenched from his Melbourne Harbour Trust job (1891-94), he entered private practice (1894-1902) with Joshua Thomas Noble Anderson. Monash was in demand as a legal engineering expert, and, after obtaining patent rights for Monier reinforced concrete construction, the partnership’s work became popular with those wanting bridges built. The Anderson Street (Morell) Bridge (1899) was Victoria’s first reinforced concrete bridge. A bridge collapse and an extraordinary 1902 court decision ruined the business. Monash focused on building construction, and, after three impoverished years, formed the Reinforced Concrete & Monier Pipe Construction Co. Ltd. By 1913 he was a wealthy man. Dr Mark Johnston wrote in the April 2018 Great Scot about Monash’s military career, and – keeping his education in mind — it need only be noted that Monash’s consideration of warfare as an ‘engineering problem’ contributed significantly to his planning of what was called ‘the perfect battle’, which helped turn the tide of the war. In 1918-19, he brilliantly organised the repatriation of 160,000 Australian soldiers, including overseeing the AIF Education Scheme, and he was the ‘natural spokesman for returned soldiers.’ In 1920 Monash became General Manager (later Chairman) of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, and drove this massive project through various difficulties until, by 1930, the power grid covered the state, improving lives and industrial and economic opportunities. His leadership in identifying problems, finding solutions, and getting the best out of people was extraordinary, and paralleled what he had done at war. ABOVE, LEFT: KING GEORGE V KNIGHTING LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR JOHN MONASH AT THE AUSTRALIAN CORPS HEADQUARTERS AT BERTANGLES, NORTHERN FRANCE, 12 AUGUST 1918. ABOVE, RIGHT: SIR JOHN MONASH (LEFT) AND GENERAL J J T HOBBS PASSING THE SALUTING BASE OUTSIDE BUCKINGHAM PALACE DURING AN ANZAC DAY MARCH. RIGHT: SIR JOHN MONASH: PORTRAIT TAKEN DURING WORLD WAR 1 www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot 13

Great Scot September 2018 Gt Scot_154_September_online | Page 13