Unique Murray River of Honour War Trail

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Images © Shane Strudwick

IN an Australian, and possibly world first, a Murray River War Trail will pay tribute to the regions – and people – who have played a significant role in the nation’s war efforts during the past 100 years. As well as honouring these brave men and women of yesteryear, it is hoped the River of Honour, launched this week on the Discover Murray website, will act as a further magnet for Australian and international tourists.

The unique new tourist concept, instigated by Discover Murray director Shane Strudwick, stretches from the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to centres almost the length of the Murray River, through NSW, Victoria and South Australia. “The Murray River regions played important roles in our war efforts,” Shane told the Mildura Weekly. “This ranged from food production, air force bases, internment camps, immigration and soldier settlements, including Robinvale, a sister town to Villers-Bretonneux in France.

“This formed an important part of the Western Front defensive for Australians during the First World War, equal to the roles they played at Gallipoli and along the Kokoda Track. Villers Bretonneux was the key to halting the German advance on the Western Front, and also where Lieutenant George Robin Cuttle, son of Robinvale founders Herbert and Margaret Cuttle, was killed in air combat.

“Having a sister town equivalent to Gallipoli on the Murray River ensures we have a spiritual connection to Australia’s war heritage on the Western Front. Long term I’d love to see Australia’s first Regional National War Memorial based at Robinvale.”

Shane said the unique war trail also paid tribute to Murray River womenfolk. “During the Second World War, many men left the Murray region to join the armed forces,” he said. “Much of their work was taken over by women, and these regions became an important resource for food production and processing during the war effort. “Former training bases, prison camps and internment compounds were established along the river regions, including Loveday in the Riverland of SA.

“In the wake of World War Two, irrigation regions were established by soldier settlements – Loxton and Cooltong in SA, Robinvale and Cobram in Victoria,” Shane said.

“The Coomealla Irrigation Area in the Sunraysia region of NSW was extended for solider settlement. With water being secured to irrigate and create Australia’s food bowl, the State and Federal governments introduced policies and incentives to populate the river regions and extend the irrigation process. “The post-WWI and WWII soldier- settlement policies were introduced as incentives to settlers. The States provided blocks of land and the Federal government sponsored the loans.”

Shane said blood, sweat and tears were the order of the day for many of these new settlers. Most had little or limited farming expertise, they lacked equipment, and were unfamiliar with rural life. “Most early settlers had to live in huts, battle rabbits eating their crops and irrigate their trees by hand, as the government had failed to deliver on promised irrigation works,” Shane said.

“These settlers or ‘blockies’ as they came to be known, carved out a new life with ingenuity, and adapted to the harsh reality of farming in the river regions.

The Murray River region across three states contains a vast range of war memorials that honour the fallen, and those who sacrificed themselves for Australia.” Shane said his Discover Murray River War Trail aimed to assist and educate people travelling this great river region to connect with the stories of communities who acknowledged their fallen, and showcase some of the wonderful experiences, museums and monuments that now preserve and protect the legacy of our diggers.

“On the eve of the Centenary of Gallipoli, this is an appropriate time to refl ect on our country’s war heroes, their contribution and sacrifi ce, ultimately allowing us to enjoy our
lifestyle today,” he said.

The Discover Murray War Trail directly links to the longestablished Discover Murray River Trail and Murray River Apps and Passport. The Murray River website, established in 1998, is the go-to website for the Murray River region. Shane said the River War Trail would soon have its own print material, along with the digital presence that has already begun to grow with neighbouring regions keen to be part of this
unique journey.

“Its imperative that the Murray River region, along with other parts of regional Australia are acknowledged for their efforts during all wars that Australia have served,” he said. “The River of Honour aims to preserve, remember and express gratitude for the wonderful life we have today in one of Australia’s most
important and unique regions.”

More information is available by Googling ‘Murray River War Trail.’ or by contacting Shane direct on 0409 678 654.

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