VICDOC Summer 2023 - Magazine - Page 100
A L B ERT COAT ES FO RECO U RT
FOUR MEDICS WHOSE NAMES WERE UNCOVERED DURING
RESEARCH AND ADDED TO THE STATUE IN 2023:
Owen Herbert Peters (WWI)
Miles Charles Cariston Seton (WWI)
Ian Thomas Cameron (WWII)
Francis Michael Blackall (WWII)
The restoration work involved cleaning,
treatment for bronze verdigris and
waterproofing. The work took place in
2019 but had to be postponed when the
Covid-19 pandemic took place.
This turned out to be a blessing in
disguise, with the Committee able to
reschedule the rededication for Monday
13 November 2023 – exactly one hundred
years since it was first dedicated.
The centenary rededication ceremony
took place in the Albert Coates Forecourt
at AMA Victoria House. More than one
hundred people attended the rededication
to hear guest speakers, the Ode and the
Last Post. Several travelled from overseas,
including one person who came from
New York for the occasion.
AMA Vice President, Dr Simon Judkins,
welcomed more than 100 guests to the
ceremony. Guest speakers were Major
General Jeffrey Rosenfeld, who gave the
keynote address, Dr Hugh Roberton from
Legacy, Antony Walker speaking on behalf
of World War One relatives, John Hasker
representing World War Two families
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AMA VI C TO RIA
and Dr Jean Douglas speaking about
the history of the statue and its sculptor.
Heritage and Archives Committee
chair Gerald Segal was the Master of
Ceremonies. Two other committee
members also played roles; Dr Walter
Heale laying a wreath on behalf of
AMA Victoria and Dr Alan Mawdsley
reciting the Ode.
“It was a real privilege to see relatives
and friends of some of those named on
the statue assemble to honour these men,
and very moving to have them present.
I believe an organisation that knows its
origins and history and stories is able to
flourish into the future, so this was a very
important project for AMA Victoria,”
says Gerald.
"We know that when World War One
broke out, many of the men who were
doctors in Victoria volunteered to go to
war and care for their fellow countrymen.
This shows their huge dedication to the
cause, and to their profession, and it’s
wonderful to be able to keep their stories
alive in this way."
