Weary worked here... (previously Apprentice Hero) Traditional Cache
Weary worked here... (previously Apprentice Hero)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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A not so easy cache in a town full of interesting history, to draw your attention to a little known location.
This cache has replaced my original cache here called "Apprentice Hero". It was muggled after only a few short weeks. Please be careful so this doesn't meet the same fate.
Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop is an Australian hero. An icon if you
like. He spent a fair portion of his youth here in Benalla, near
Majors Plain where he was born in 1907. He lived for a short time
in Stewarton attending the Stewarton Public School, between Benalla
& Shepparton before moving to Benalla in 1922.
Having attended Benalla High School, he started his apprenticeship
as a Pharmacist here where you should be standing and there is a
plaque on the wall as reminder that here commenced a path to
medical & historical greatness. From here he moved to the
College of Pharmacy in Parkeville, before going to Ormond College
at Melbourne University on scholarship.
In 1936 he was appointed as a Junior Resident at Royal Melbourne
Hospital and quickly rose to Senior Surgical Registrar in less than
2 years. In 1938 he left for England as a ships doctor and ended up
working there for a short time. While there he studied and was
admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons.
At the outbreak of war 'Weary' Dunlop enlisted with the Australian
Army Medical Corp and was given the rank of Captain. He was soon
put to service as at Australian Overseas Base, Jerusalem as a
Medical Officer, and appointed Acting Assistant Director of Medical
Services. Promoted to Major in May 1940, he was transferred and
appointed Deputy Assistant Director of Medical at AIF Headquarters
in Gaza and Alexandria. Offered promotion he declined, he remained
with this unit as senior surgeon (and second in charge) and
subsequently served with them in Tobruk.
When troops withdrew, he & the 2/2 Casualty Clearing Station
were transferred to Java. He was promoted to Leiutenant Colonel in
1942.
At the time he was in command of No.1 Allied General Hospital at
Bandoeng when Java fell to the Japanese, and he became a prisoner
of war. As a prisoner of war, Dunlop and the troops under his
command were transferred by the Japanese to Singapore and in 1943
he was sent as Officer in Charge of the Australian POW's to the
Thai-Burma Railway. This is probably the role that made him famous
to most Australians. It was here he spent the remainder of the war
in the camp and spent most of his time working to save sick,
malnourished and overworked men.
It is well documented that he put his own life on the line in
defense of men against the brutal Japanese camp staff. He was noted
for the now famous diary he kept throughout the time of his
incarceration.
After demobilisation he was a tireless campaigner for justice for
former Prisoners of War.
Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop died in 1993 but his legacy will live on
for years to come. If you have the time head over the bridge to the
south on Bridge Road. In the park overlooking the river there is a
memorial erected in his honour.
IF YOU ARE AT THE RIGHT LOCATION A PLAQUE WILL MAKE IT OBVIOUS THAT YOUR GPS ISN'T BEING OVERLY AFFECTED BY BUILDINGS & THE STREET FRONT AWNINGS.
STEALTH WILL BE REQUIRED PARTICULARLY DURING BUSINESS HOURS.
THIS CACHE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AFTER THE GATE IS CLOSED BY SECURITY GUARDS IN THE EARLY EVENING. THE GATES REOPEN EARLY MORNING.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Not on/in the bin]