Historical: The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge’s ‘Roll of Honor’.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
A mysterious honour board has been dropped off at the Shepparton RSL.
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The board was found during a shed clean out and was barely saved from being sent to the tip, RSL member Arnold Warburton said.
The board belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, Number 102, a fraternity set up to protect and care for its members and communities at a time when there were no social services.
Beneath the honour roll is a depiction of a battle — which could be the landing of Gallipoli — in which the named men might have fought.
However, there is no indication of which battle is depicted or when it occurred, with the only dates on the board being 1914 and 1919.
The Shepparton RSL club has chased up some names on the board and found they were locals who served in the Australian military.
Beneath the names an inscription reads “Matters it not who must weep in Glory’s grave our heroes sleep”.
There are crosses next to some of the names, which Mr Warburton speculated could be an indication that those men died serving their country, perhaps even in the battle depicted.
Battle scene: The honour board.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The RSL is going to clean and restore the board in the hope of finding someone who recognises it.
“We want to find out who it belongs to so we can get some history on it,” Mr Warburton said.
Once the honour board is restored the RSL club will likely donate it to the Shepparton Heritage Centre or the Mooroopna Museum.
Piece of history: Mark Stephens and Arnold Warburton from the Shepparton RSL.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
• If you have any information pertaining to the honour board please contact the News on 5831 2312 or gianni.francis@mmg.com.au
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