True Blue Heroes
Seeds of Attainment

This cache starts at a beautiful remembrance memorial for all those who served, suffered and died in Vietnam 1962-1973.

The memorial is located in Henderson Square and comprises the Remembrance Rock and the Seeds of Attainment sculpture. The sculpture was commissioned by the Salisbury Council as part of the “Moving Forward” project.

The sculpture artists are Martin Corbin, Sandy Elverd, Gerry McMahon and Chris Ormerod and a brief outline from the booklet Moving Forward - The Vietnam Veterans Awareness Project, which is available from Salisbury Council follows:
The sculpture comprises of five pod like elements which appear to be randomly scattered within the installation of space. Seed pods of native plant species known to regenerate after fire were the starting point for the sculptural forma as a metaphor for the Vietnam experience. The pods are darkly patinated welded silicon bronze in a roughly textured spherical form. Four awakening pods lie at different angles and splitting slightly, revealing reflective bronze and stainless steel within. The fifth pod form has split open from which a brilliant 5.5 metre bronze and stainless steel spire emerges, an expression of new growth and promise for the future.

Multiple levels of meaning can be found within the work.  The darkened and textured metal pods reflect native seed pods singed by flames, but also speak of fire in war and conflict. The pods are splitting apart, regenerated by the fire, linking to ideas of growth, moving on and breaking out. The central pod connects with the other pods through a flowing line pattern indicated in the pavement surface speaking of the interconnectedness of the community, the support offered by family and friends, and the inspiration offered by those who move ahead. The pod furthest from the memorial rock is yet to open, not quite touched by the others

… Additionally, subtle text can be discovered punched into the the textured surfaces, phrases from the kids themselves (from Mawson Lakes School)about their experiences working with the veterans (in a community garden project).

The streets in the area where named in the 1990’s, when the estate was developed by the SA Housing Trust, after fallen South Australian heroes. The street name signs in the area were changed in 2005 to include rank and name after whom the street was named and the date they fell.

Take your time to reflect in the square before heading to the cache. For stealth I recommend walking or riding to GZ (rather than trying to park near GZ), and on your journey take note of the street signs.

Apologies that GZ is not a great ending, but neither was Vietnam.

GZ is located at:
S 34° 49.X44 E 138° 37.Y80

Where X is the day in November that Tim Fischer M.P unveiled the original plaque on the Remembrance Rock; and
Y the number of people with a Victoria Cross (V.C) on the plaque.

Please Enjoy

Rich from The Calumphing_Four

Thanks to Nichola Kapitza from Salisbury Council for supplying sculpture information.