By Casey Neill
A wealth of war stories will be unearthed at Springvale Botanical Cemetery this Anzac Day.
Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) historian and cultural heritage manager Dr Celestina Sagazio will host a tour through the site, including the Springvale War Cemetery, from noon on Wednesday 25 April.
She’s just written a book exploring the cemetery’s rich military connections, Victorian War Heritage.
Lance Corporal Arthur Ruduss features. He was born in Riga, Latvia, in 1936 and left Australia for service on 14 May 1966.
Dr Sagazio said he served in Malaya and Borneo before being transferred to Vietnam, where he spent just 30 days.
“He died of shrapnel wounds to the chest from friendly-fire in Phuoc Tuy on 12 June 1966,” she said.
“He was 29.
“His mother did not know he was in Vietnam.
“He was originally buried in Terendak Cemetery in Malaysia before it was government policy to repatriate our dead.”
Dr Sagazio said that on 10 June 2016, former original members of 7RAR along with Ruduss’ youngest brother, two sisters and nieces and nephew attended his reburial.
“Current members of 7RAR came to Victoria to act as bearers and an honour guard,” she said.
James ‘Jimmy’ Melbourne was a notable Indigenous Australian who served in WWI.
“In 1900 he became the first Aboriginal person to play Australian Rules football at a state level, representing West Perth,” Dr Sagazio said.
“He survived the war, however on 13 December 1937 he was murdered at his home in South Melbourne.
“His landlord was convicted of Melbourne’s manslaughter.”
Melbourne was laid to rest in an unmarked grave for 80 years.
“In 2015 the WA government and various organisations funded a monument for his grave to ensure that the soldier, footballer and trailblazer was appropriately remembered,” she said.
“The headstone itself contained granite from Ballardong country, his hometown of York.
“On 18 September 2015 there was a military service held at his grave to erect the headstone to commemorate his legacy and unveil his monument.”
Dr Sagazio said eight Victoria Cross (VC) recipients were laid to rest in Springvale Botanical Cemetery, more than any other cemetery in Victoria.
“The VC was awarded to those who displayed conspicuous bravery,” she said.
“Each of their stories is astonishing and a reminder of the incredible courage individuals are capable of in the face of great danger.”
The meeting place for the Anzac Day tour is the cafe at the Clarence Reardon Centre.
Victorian War Heritage is available free of charge in hard copy from the Springvale Botanical Cemetery office and electronically from smct.org.au.
