History Mystery Monday: Where did Rosemary go?

If you’ve ever visited Victory Park in Ascot Vale, you've probably noticed a bronze statue of a smartly dressed lady on the corner of Epsom and Langs roads, keeping watch over the intersection. She’s mostly known as Rosemary, or Rosie to her friends.

Of the Australian soldiers who returned from the First World War, tens of thousands had suffered physical or psychological injuries which required much care and support. Once they were back home, this role mostly rested with the supportive the women in their lives- mothers, wives and sisters. The Rosemary monument is a life-sized representation of such a lady, dressed in the fashion of 1918. She was erected in honour of these caring women in August of 2015, commissioned by the wonderful organisation Women Caring for Veterans of War after 18 months of fundraising.

Rosemary- photograph by Moonee Valley City Council

Devastatingly, just 6 months later, the statue was stolen by thieves- leaving behind only Rosemary’s bronze shoes. Where did Rosemary go?

Moonee Valley Council stepped in to replace the monument with a replica, assuring it was made of more robust material and to deter future thieves. The statue was reinstated in her position in Victory Park on Tuesday the 14th of March, 2017.

Rosie once again stands proudly as a representation of the enormous sacrifices made by all the women who cared for World War I soldiers returning from the battlefields, who needed so much care and compassion.

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