Mad Harry seems to have been better remembered for returning from war as just another bloke in the community as his ability to rise to the occasion when fate thrust him into battle, foreign both geographically and, apparently,  to his nature. 

But looking beyond the Pontings of today, one does muse on what Mr Murray might have pondered at today’s emphasis on history ... the plethora of indestructible bronze plaques in every public building, stretch of realigned tarmac and sporting grandstand, commemorating every political wannabe who has been thrust by taxpayers’ money into the glory of officially opening every insignificant extension and refurbishment.

We have a lot to learn from history and “heroes” who happened in the wrong place at the wrong time, and not really much to learn from opportunists whose simple duty is to be in the right clobber at the right place at the right time.

Will the bronze gong for Recherche go to a Mad Harry?

I’ve always thought Ricky looked more like a younger George W Bush.

The real heroes of WWI were those who went to prison or were executed rather than fight.

Dear Mr Parsons,

I note that it was in the wee hours when you posted your comments, but what exactly were you trying to say?

yours mystified,

Margaretta Pos

My dear Mr Justa Bloke,

How simplistic!

yours miffed,

Margaretta Pos

It may be of some interest to you that under the rules governing the V.C, Harry Murray is regarded as a Western Australian. He is recognised as such by the Australian War Memorial and in the formal memorial publication on the subject, “They Dared mightily.” The 16th Battalion was Western Australian, Harry enlisted in W.A ,therefore Harry is a Westy, and so is his V.C. If anyone thinks that is unfair please remember that if place of birth decided state designation then Tasmania would lose both P.H Cherry and J.E Newland, a couple of Victorian boys.

If anyone should get a statue it should be Sir John Gellibrand, the highest ranked Tasmanian of the Great War. He commanded a Division, and was regarded as a leader who tried at all times to limit the loss of men in badly planned attacks and often came into conflict with other, less skilled commanders. Perhaps Magaretta Pos should consider that Harry Murray is remembered primarily as a great front line fighter, a man praised for his ability to kill Germans. In building a statue to him there is a danger that we turn from our traditional homage of those who fought and died into the homage of those that fought and killed.

I have seen many statues in my life, all over the world.  From Michaelangelo’s David to Sir John in Franklin Square there was not a single one I liked.  The statue as a cultural form is an abomination.

I fear that Ms Pos might find this comment simplistic.  It comes, however, as does my earlier comment on war, only after several decades of thought and experience, dealing with many fairly complex issues.

Having never been within a bullet’s whoosh of a war, I’m very loath to dare sling off at anyone who has, especially someone whose performance has been recognised by so many military decorations; I’d definitely not use “heroes”, nor imply that sitting out the Great War in a prison was more heroic than military service in the trenches of the Western Front.

And I s’pose some people find statues less of an abomination that others seem to do.

Thank you, Lenoard Colquhoun,  for bringing the voice of reason into this debate!

Sir John Gellibrand was indeed a fine soldier, RCS, but I do not think that a statue honouring the bravery of Harry Murray detracts from Sir John’s reputation. And as for homage of those who fought and killed rather than whose who fought and died, c’mon, it was war….

Justa Bloke might think the statue as a cultural form is an abomination, but most people, from most cultures, would disagree. My quibble is that there are so few of women - indeed, I can’t think of any in Tasmania. And I regret that we don’t seem to have moved on from the nineteenth century in their contemporary form.

I have no idea of the merits of the statue to be unveiled by the Governor General in Evandale on Friday 24th, but I for one, am glad that Harry Murray will be honoured in his home town.

These blokes aren’t heroes. Heroes play Test cricket for Australia, or play for Collingwood, are good at golf or appear in an Olympic game. Kerry Packer must have been something of a hero, or why would he have had a state funeral?

To my mind, war is replete with heros of various kinds even though the reasons for war may be less than honorable in many cases. I also think people who volunteer for Lifeline, the Salvos, Vinnies, Bethlehem House, St Johns Ambulance and Meals on Wheels are true heros - how come we hardly see them in State and National Awards?  Even Bob Brown and Brian Harradine are state heros - they stood up for principles shared by their relative communities. There should be a statue of these blokes somewhere.