Robert Menzies
Robert Gordon Menzies was the 12th and longest-serving Australian Prime Minister, holding office for over 18 years from 1939 to 1941, then again from 1949 to 1966. He played a central role in the creation of the Liberal Party of Australia.
Jeparit: Robert Menzies was born in 1894 in Jeparit, a little known small north-western Victorian town. His Australian born parents moved from Ballarat to Jeparit to take over the general store. Robert enjoyed a wonderful childhood in Jeparit, hunting jabbies, fishing and swimming in the Wimmera river. In 1899 Robert began his formal schooling at the age of four and a half at the Jeparit State School, a single teacher, one room school. When he was 11 he was sent to live with his paternal grandmother in Ballarat to continue his schooling there. Unfortunately neither Menzies home or fathers shop remain - one was burnt down and the other demolished.
The Sir Robert Menzies Spire was erected by the people of Jeparit and district to celebrate Menzies childhood and subsequent rise to political fame. "The spire symbolises the rise to world recognition of a boy who was born in Jeparit and who rose by his own efforts to become Australia's Prime Minister and statesman recognised and honoured throughout the world". It was unveiled on 18th September 1966, with Menzies and 22 members of his family present. It was a big occasion, with Jeparit's population of 770 at the time trebling, with three pipe and two brass bands playing. There is an interesting 20 minute sound recording of Robert Menzies speaking at the plaque unveiling ceremony at the following link: Robert Menzies speech in Jeparit
The spire is 18 metres high, being a grey steel column with a replica thistle on top. The thistle has a purple glow at night.
This virtual cache has been created to showcase a little known town in north-western Victoria by highlighting it's most famous resident. But surely Jeparit must have other interesting features?
In order to log this cache you will need to complete 2 photographic tasks.
1. Take a photo of yourself, your GPS or some identifying object with the WHOLE spire (including the thistle) in the background. Include the photo with your log (but if you are unable to post 2 photos on your log, send this photo to the CO via Geocaching messages in order to prove your actual presence at the spire).
2. Take a photo of some other interesting feature or item in Jeparit. Let your imagination go wild! It could be a tourist attraction, event, building, activity, vehicle, machinery, natural feature, person, animal or even a sign - the more interesting, creative or quirky the better! Include the photo and a description in your log, explaining what the photo is of and why you chose it.
Please note: in accordance with the rules for virtual caches, logs without the above mentioned requirements will be deleted.
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Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.