Australian Lighthorse Memorial
In 2002, a small group in Tongala was established to look at the possibility of an Australian Light Horse memorial on the Shire lawns. Michael Thompson, a local resident, chaired this small group in obtaining permission and funding to the er****on of this memorial. John Jones was Michaels so-called right-hand man with looking after all the funding costs and donations
. Many local residents also contributed to the project with George Edwards and Darren Woods with the concreting,
Greg Regan with the excavation of the site and Murray McGill delivery of the granite rock for the statue. The Shire of Campaspe allowed use of the land, the maintenance of gardens and engineers guidance etc. Neil Repacholi participated in the project with a large input to see this memorial come to place, as did many more other residents of Tongala. In 2003 the Australian Light Horse memorial was unveiled by Tongala’s last Militia Light Horsemen, Mr Maurice Watson. There were over 600 people in attendance for the day. Armoured Corps, Avenue of Honour (Vietnam)
After the Light Horse memorial was completed, Michael Thompson commenced to build another memorial to the Armoured Corps servicemen who lost their lives in the Vietnam war in 2003. This is the Avenue of Honour which is located next to the railway lines. People that assisted with the establishment of this memorial are John Madill, with the lasering and groundwork for the Avenue, John Jones in charge of the budget, Mayor Neil Repacholi again assisting with funding and all requirements needed from the Shire of Campaspe. George Edwards and Darren Woods again carried out the concreting. John Whitehorn, ex 1st Armoured Regiment (Vietnam) came very close to Michael through the stages of the Avenue being constructed. John’s vision was to see a Centurion tank located in the Avenue between the two 1st Armoured Corps plaques. Unfortunately, John did not see his vision come to fruition, and passed away in 2005. Michael later purchased the Centurion in 2005 when one became available, and it is now located in the Avenue of Honour, with the full support of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment (Vietnam) Association, and the Tongala Community Bank providing the funding required to get it there and be refurbished. In 2004 the Armoured Corps (Vietnam War) Avenue of Honour was unveiled by the Governor General, Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery, AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC. In attendance as well was the Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy AC, along with other distinguished dignitaries and over 1000 people. A new memorial is currently under plans to recognise the RAAC AND RAEME who serviced in Operations from Somalia to Afghanistan
