Page 5 - TPI Victoria Inc. CHINup Winter 2018 Edition-FINAL_Neat

TPI VICTORIA INC. • CHINup WINTER 2018 • WWW.TPIVIC.COM 3

Much, much more

than a Book Launch!

‘The Victoria Cross, Australia Remembers’ officially launched with a big and loud ‘bang’!
What more can you say apart from a book launch that rivals any other that I have ever been to or involved with
– it was moreover an event in its own right to celebrate the release of one of the best ‘coffee table’ books
published for a long time recognising our 100 Victoria Cross Recipients and their Families.
I think that everyone will agree who attended the There were, and are so many contributors and
Official Launch of ‘The Victoria Cross, Australia stakeholders that we cannot hope to mention
Remembers’ that this was a massive event and one them all however, some individuals require particular
that was befitting of the release of a magnificent thanks for without them, Michael and the
book and undertaking by TPI Victoria Inc., the Author project team would not have got to the places,
Michael Madden, Big Sky Publishing and the whole nor grained the trust of so many to complete
project team. everything they did. Of particular note, we need
to acknowledge and sincerely thank the last living
Just over three years ago, the concept was put to the recipient of the Imperial Victoria Cross from the
association by the Author, Michael Madden, and I Vietnam War, Keith Payne VC AM KSJ and his wife
think at that time we did not fully understand or Ms. Flo Payne OAM along with Mr. Doug Baird, the
appreciate the enormity or scale of the project, nor father of Cpl Cameron Baird VC MG who was killed
the effect that it would have on so many people. in Afghanistan in 2013.

Keith, Flo and Doug have been instrumental in
“tŚĂƚ Ă ũŽƵƌŶĞLJ͕ ƚŚƌĞĞ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ƉŝĞĐŝŶŐ supporting the project and the association over the
ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ϲϬ &ĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ last couple of years and it certainly would not have
ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͕ ŝŵĂŐĞƌLJ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĚĞƌƚĂŬŝŶŐƐ ďLJ ŵĂŶLJ had the impact, nor the presence that it has without
ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ƚŚŝƐ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞ Ͳ ĨĂŶƚĂƐƚŝĐ͘” their support behind it. We were fortunate to have
their support for the project and this continues with all
three being Ambassadors for you Association.
TPI Victoria Inc. joined with Michael Madden when he
approached us those years ago and was swayed to We also acknowledge and sincerely thank Denny
get behind the project to realise an outcome that Neave from Big Sky Publishing who gave the
would not only bring to light the incredible stories of undertaking to publish this book ‘at cost’ which in this
our Victoria Cross Recipients and their Families, but day and age is a massive commitment.
also lift the profile and the awareness of TPI Victoria
Inc. along with providing a financial return for the Additionally, we cannot go past our newest Patron of
membership. TPI Victoria Inc., Mr. George Petrou, the artist behind
the magnificent portraits featured in the book and
The project was complex, time and resource the works that have brought our VC recipients to life
consuming, and required a leap of faith from many to through his art. Again, George has been instrumental
realise the outcome of publishing this book. It is fair to in supporting the project over the last couple of years
say that the scale and reach of the book was not and has been effective and in some quarters the key
fully understood at the time, but in the belief that it in ‘opening doors’ for Michael and the books
was a good news story, your association got behind Photographer, Gordon Traill to go through – we thank
it, and we are all very pleased and proud that we all contributors for whatever role they have played
did. and thank them for supporting us, our Veterans and
their Families – Amazing things can be achieved with
In getting behind the project the association needed everyone coming together for a common purpose -
to ensure that it was resourced appropriately and congratulations to all.
this also required a dedicated commitment to
support the Author, and the project team and
whilst the financial contribution by the association Best wishes,
was large, the end result sees a fantastic outcome John Poland
and an ongoing return through the sales of the book. State President – TPI Victoria Inc.