A memorial to honour the life and work of “Sir Stanley Savige” will soon be erected in Morwell according to Advance Morwell Chairman, John Guy.

“Advance Morwell is extremely pleased to announce that the Sir Stanley Savige memorial will be constructed in the soon to be developed park adjacent to the new Rail Underpass in Commercial Road.”  Said Mr Guy.

“This memorial will recognise and provide information about Sir Stanley Savige who, having been born in Morwell, became a prominent humanitarian and soldier and was also the founder of Legacy.”  He added.

A “Sir Stanley Savige Memorial Committee” chaired by Cr. Darrell White has been formed and includes representatives from Latrobe City; Advance Morwell, Legacy and The Moe R&SL.  

Invitations to join this Committee have also been issued to the Morwell R&SL, Morwell Lions Club and Morwell and Hazelwood Rotary Clubs. 

Mr Guy Said “Advance Morwell will continue to take the lead role with the project, which has an estimated total cost of $15,000.”

“It is proposed that the Memorial will be funded by contributions from the public, Advance Morwell, Latrobe City, other interested organisations and we will be appealing to the public to also make donations” He added.

Advance Morwell will also seek assistance from the Federal and State Government and have set Legacy Week 2006 as the target date for completion and the official unveiling of the Monument.

According to Mr Guy, local Sculptor Mr. Glen Davies has been approached to cast a Bust of Sir Stanley Savige and Advance Morwell will soon be tendering local stone masons to erect a suitable monument and install the Bust.

In delivering a Memorial Oration at the Opening of the 26th Annual Conference of Legacy Clubs of Australia, 1954 Legatee Brian Armstrong said in part:

“It was not ordained that Stanley George Savige should enjoy a long life, but it was to prove a life of outstanding service.” 

Born at Morwell in Victoria in 1890 he received, with his brothers and sisters, such education as was then available to a lad in a mining district. 

He had no particular opportunities of advancement, but from his early days he cherished a strong ambition to make a success of his life, and with this in view he lost no opportunity of adding to his knowledge. 

Always a lover of the open country, a good bushman and a fine shot he became as a young man, a Scoutmaster with a keen following of boys. 

Even in those early days he attracted youth, and showed undoubted promise of the quality of leadership which later was to make him famous.”

“Down the years of Legacy there are many names deserving of honour, men from all States and of all stations of life, but no name stands out in such clear and bold relief as does the name of the man we now remember. 

By his works you shall know him. He was, in my belief, the Soul of Legacy. He sought no office and preferred to work as one of the team.”