Sir Murray Bourchier honoured

The daring and courageous assault to recapture the town and secure water supplies changed the course of World War I.

Rather than dismount and attack on foot, the horsemen, many of whom had also come from farms in the Goulburn Valley, rode into the Turkish defences with bayonets fixed.

Sir Murray is depicted mid-charge on horseback with pistol drawn, a luxury afforded to officers.

A large crowd gathered for the unveiling was informed of Sir Murray’s important work when he returned for the region.

He was elected to the Victorian Parliament as the member for Goulburn Valley and fought for the right of veterans.

He later took up a position as Victoria’s Agent General in London, where he died aged 56.

“His life wasn't very long. However, it was a life of high impact,” his granddaughter Sally Brennan told the crowd.

“He was deeply aware of how war affected people.

“If he was here today and if he’s anything like his children and his grandchildren, I have no doubt that he would be working with this community for the same principles.

“There are people who’ve been affected by war who have come here to start a new life.

“There is an indigenous community who has been deeply affected by wars of another kind.

“To truly honour him, we need to continue to ensure that the Goulburn Valley, Victoria and the whole of Australia remains a place of peace, where war has no place.

“That is what he fought for and that is his legacy.’’

Major Steven Dobbie represented the 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment, which he said commemorated the Battle of Beersheba every year as part of its proud history.

“The Battle of Beersheba that we remember today was a remarkable feat of courage and skill and should be acknowledged as such,” he said.

The project, which took more than a decade to realise, was initially kicked off by Jeanette Powell, who as Member for Shepparton secured $50,000 in seed funding.

“This is a very proud day where we honour the life of service of a local hero brigade,” Mrs Powell said.

"I hope this statue will also be a fitting tribute to those who served their country, those who gave their lives for their country, and those who made sacrifices for the country.“

Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum also spoke of his pride that the Federal Government had contributed to getting the bronze completed.

John Bourchier, who was involved in the project from its inception, including serving on the Bourchier Memorial Committee set up by Greater Shepparton City Council, said his family was bursting with pride.

"It is a real honour to have Sir Murray recognised not only for his military achievements, but also as a family man, as a local farmer and also for his political career,’’ he said.

“It is recognition of a man that really not only fought during the war, but when he came home, he fought very strongly for all his fellow soldiers who served under him.”

As a politician, Sir Murray was a fierce advocate for looking after veterans and was instrumental in the establishment of a soldier settlement scheme.

Sir Murray had endured seven months in Gallipoli, but when he wrote home all he wanted to talk about was cattle prices and rainfall.

He returned in 1919, establishing his farm at Katandra.

Ms Brennan said her grandmother recalled throwing back the curtains in the morning after he was elected to see people lined up along the fence line waiting to make a representation.

In a hint as to the impact of war, she also recalled that Sir Murray, who was clearly a good horseman, never rode again.

“Whilst the family had ponies and he taught them to ride, he never owned another horse and he never spoke about it, and we all know why,” she said.