The residents of New South Wales will not get the chance to see a collection of Victoria Cross medals which will be taken on a national tour later this month, according to The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams.

The nine medals were awarded for bravery in the Gallipoli campaign, with seven of them earned in the Battle of Lone Pine on August the 6^th and 7^th 1915.

Senator Williams applauded the concept of the tour to commemorate the 95^th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing, but is bitterly disappointed this historic event will bypass New South Wales and deny people, particularly children, the chance to see these nine medals.

He said winners of the Victoria Cross hold special significance in the hearts of all Australians past and present.

“Of the 97 recipients of the Victoria Cross, twenty three or almost a quarter have been from New South Wales.

They include Arthur Roden Cutler, later to become known as Sir Roden Cutler the Governor of New South Wales, Grafton-born Frank Partridge who is one of the youngest recipients and who became a household name on the television program Pick-a-Box, and Australia’s latest hero Trooper Mark Donaldson who displayed a conspicuous act of gallantry in Afghanistan in September 2008.

This State has a link with the Victoria Cross, but many of its residents will never get the chance to visit the outstanding Australian War Memorial in Canberra to see the medals. This would have been a wonderful chance to take them to the people of New South Wales.

I will be writing to the Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin asking for a reversal of this decision”, Senator Williams said.