10th Light Horseman

The 10th Light Horse Regiment Commemorative Art Work was installed in Brunswick on 26th May, 2013 by the Brunswick Lions Club.  The statue is located immediately outside Brunswick Memorial Hall facing South West Highway.

The impetus for the project came from a very generous donation from a local senior citizen, Roger Edwards of Wellesley, a former trooper of the 10th Light Horse.  Roger was 92 years old at the time and still very fit for his age. He served in the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment (AIF) from 1941 until 1944.  He has written a most interesting booklet about his experiences in the Regiment called ‘A Trooper’s Story’, published in 1993.  There are also a number of other men still living around Brunswick and other districts who have spent time as CMF volunteers with the Regiment.

The Brunswick Junction Lions Club took on the task in 2011 of creating a suitable memorial to the men from the local area who volunteered for service in the Regiment. Ultimately, Bunbury artist Rocheen Navaro was commissioned to design and create the artwork and the result is a unique and colourful piece that complements and enhances the Brunswick streetscape. The mosaic statue cost about $30,000 by the time it was completed. 

The statue is of a trooper in full battle uniform mounted on a galloping horse and carrying the troop’s black and gold banner.  It is life size, being approximately 2.9metres high and is comprised of a galvanised steel backing plate cut to the required profile, with the details of the man and horse highlighted in ceramic mosaic tiles glued to the front of the plate.  There is also a brass explanatory plaque fixed into the concrete base of the statue.

In addition to Mr Edward’s donation, monetary support in the form of a grant was received from the Department of Veteran Affairs. The Shire of Harvey assisted with the selection of the site, engineering requirements and upgrading the surrounding area.