Wagga Wagga City Council’s Museum of the Riverina has unveiled a nationally significant First World War object alongwith a special appeal to fund its preservation.
The striking WWI ‘Kangaroo’ recruitment march banner, whose whereabouts were unknown for more than half a century, was recently donated to the museum.
The Kangaroo March, which set out from Wagga Wagga in December of 1915, was the longest of many recruitment marches that took place in Australia. It was a major milestone in Wagga Wagga’s WWI history.
City of Wagga Wagga Council Mayor, Dallas Tout said he was delighted to be part of the unveiling of the banner, which is now on public display at the museum’s Botanic Gardens site.
“This is a ‘holy grail’ level donation, being one of only three known examples of a WWI recruitment march banner in a museum collection,” Mayor Tout said.
“Despite its good condition, the banner does require some specialist work to be undertaken to maintain and preserve it for the future.
“To support these works, we have launched a fundraising appeal with the aim of raising $7500 to preserve this significant piece of our region’s and nation’s history for future generations.”
An unveiling event, held at the Museum of the Riverina – Botanic Gardens site on Friday, also featured the launch of a brand-new exhibition honouring Wagga Wagga’s Anzac legacy.
Looking for Merlin explores the history of WWI through the lens of Wagga Wagga soldier Merlin Kinneir Tarte’s experiences and eventual death in the final days of the war.
A deeply moving story, the digital exhibition is supported by images of Merlin’s personal effects, which were donated to the museum in 2023.
These are now on long-term display at the museum’s Botanic Gardens site, housed in a state-of-the-art exhibition showcase funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs Community Heritage Grant.
Regional Museums Officer, Sam Leah said the display complements the digital exhibition’s mission of revealing the horrors of WWI through the prism of one soldier’s journey.
“We have so many stories that resonate both locally and nationally, and this is one of the most emotional,” Ms Leah said.
“Sharing these stories through digital experiences is vital, not only to reach wider audiences, but to create meaningful access for people who may not be able to visit in person.”
“Merlin Kinneir Tarte’s personal effects and the Kangaroo March banner are such moving, human objects, revealing both the patriotic fervour underpinning the early war effort, and the devastation and loss that were to follow,” Mayor Tout said.
For more information and to view the digital exhibition Looking for Merlin, visit: museumriverina.com.au/merlin.
To support the Kangaroo March banner fundraising appeal, visit: museumriverina.com.au/kangaroo.
