Hidden piece of history opens for Anzac Day

Tallygaroopna Soldiers Memorial Hall Committee member Robyn Slee said some think the dugout was built at the same time as the hall in 1924, while others believe it wasn’t added until the 1930s.

“It's a bit of a mystery,” Ms Slee said.

Despite the dugout’s uncertain origins Ms Slee said it once played an important role for the Tallygaroopna RSL sub-branch, especially after World War I.

“It was a memory for the men who had been away at war,” Ms Slee said.

“At the trenches there was a space of respite known as the dugout.

“They would meet in the dugout and have a smoke, get away from the fire; the dugout was what you went to,” she said.

Tallygaroopna Soldiers Memorial Hall Committee member Trish Moss (née Strang) said the dugout provided some quiet while veterans adjusted back to civilian life.

“It was used by the RSL, for those that came back from the war, they liked to get together away from everyone.”

Mrs Moss said the RSL used the dugout as a clubhouse.

Veterans would hold meetings there, surrounded by memorabilia and photos.

In the Tallygaroopna Soldiers' Memorial Hall Centenary Commemorative History Book, it’s recorded that the dugout had a visitors’ book.

From 1936 to 2001, around 1700 visitors looked at the dugout.

Many were local RSL members, while others came from across the country.

Mrs Moss said that now the dugout rarely saw the light of day.

“On special occasions we open the dugout and it will be open on Anzac Day for people to have a look,” she said.

Mrs Moss said she hoped highlighting this hidden history would show visitors the realities of war.

“We hope people remember the sacrifices that were made in the war ... and how the whole country was affected.”

For those who step into the dugout this Anzac Day, they will see a space that once provided camaraderie and quiet to veterans.

The Anzac Day service at Tallygaroopna will begin at 11.30am on Saturday, April 25.

Guest speakers include Miriam O’Dea and Melvie Darbie, who will talk about their family members’ involvement in the war.

“Afterwards, the Lions Club is doing a barbecue lunch, and we’ll have the dugout open for anyone to have a look,” Mrs Moss said.

“We welcome everyone to come along and share the day.”

Ms Slee added that despite the Memorial Hall being such a landmark in Tallygaroopna, many would not have seen the dugout before.

“Lots of people would have heard about it but not many will have seen it,” she said.