On 11 November, a life-sized statue of Edward “Teddy” Sheean VC, the only naval person to have ever been awarded a Victoria Cross of Australia, will be unveiled by the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AO, RAN.
He will be joined in the reveal by key proponents in the fight for the Victoria Cross of Australia awarding to Sheean – nephew Garry Ivory; Tasmanian Minister for Veterans Affairs, the Honourable Guy Barnett MHA, and Mayor Peter Freshney of Latrobe Council.
Funded by the Tasmanian Government and Latrobe Council, the statue of Sheean VC was created by international sculptors, Gillie and Marc.
The statue design, led by Latrobe Council, included consultation with Sheean’s nephew Garry Ivory, the Executive of the Latrobe RSL&A and military uniform expert John Perryman. The design objective was not to present Sheean VC in a position of conflict but to merge two images of Sheean that captured his youthfulness and in a stance that our community would have recalled seeing him during his short period of national service.
The statue project also includes two plaques. One telling of the efforts of many, since the 1950’s, to have Sheean’s heroic actions appropriately recognised. While acknowledgement has been significant the awarding of the Victoria Cross of Australia, which is detailed in the other plaque, was the ultimate goal. This was achieved in 2020. The reveal of the Sheean VC statue is further recognition of his sacrifice.
This Service will conclude with the Chief of Navy formally presenting the Renaming Directive of TS Mersey to TS Sheean to their Commanding Officer. This honour also includes the reveal of a new badge and life ring designed to connect the future TS Sheean and Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean and his award of the Victoria Cross for Australia thus ensuring the sacrifice of Sheean VC continues to be honoured by future generations.
The Remembrance Day Service at Latrobe is an open event that will commence at 10:25 am sharp on 11 November.
