Monash Militia Camp sign and book launch

100 years ago (Sir) John Monash and 3000 soldiers headed out to Lilydale and camped where the lake is now. They were out there for about a week and on the 13th they held a mock battle at Mount Mary.
To remember the event, yesterday a plaque and sign was unveiled at the hill above Lilydale Lake with information about the event. There was also a military band, guard of honour and volley salute to celebrate the unveiling. Afterwards a book with all the details of the week events and key people was launched at the Lilydale Lake community room.

Over the past few months I worked with Lilydale Rotary on designing the signage and Mt Evelyn RSL on designing the book layout. There will be a second sign unveiled on Thursday at Coldstream near where the Battle of Mount Mary was conducted.

I've done a few historic books in the past two years, but this is the first important piece of signage I've been involved in, so it was a great honour.

Below are a few photos I took during the event.

 

Anthony McAleer, author and historian

Michael Bennett - Great Grandson of Sir John Monash

Hon Ted Baillieu - Chair of the Victorian Anzac Centenary Committee

 

Photos below by Greg Carrick

 

Captain Bell - Adjutant 5th/6th RVR and Brigadier (retired) Michael Phelps AM unveiling the sign

 

Myself, Dave Monks (signwriter) and Anthony McAleer

Shaded Ladybirds

Been so busy and missed blogging!
I've been reading a lot of blogs the last few weeks with snow storms overseas. Enjoyed looking at all the cold photos while we've been melting in 40C temperatures.

About a week before the hot weather really hit I noticed a lot of little yellow eggs on one of our trees out the back. There were a couple of ladybirds wandering around them so I assumed they were ladybird eggs.

A few days into the hot weather I went for a walk around the house to make sure there were no birds needing water and noticed a bunch of ladybirds sitting in one spot on one of the trees.

They all seemed to be hiding from the heat, so I went and grabbed my camera to take a photo. When I got over to the tree I realised that all the ladybirds must have recently hatched because there were hundreds and they were hiding on every shaded spot on the tree.

Any other plant that was resting on the tree or climbing the tree (we have a fair bit of ivy) had ladybirds hiding behind each leaf.