Call to honour Jericho grave of first Aussie VC John Hutton Bisdee

TASMANIAN historian Reg Watson has urged not only Anglican parishioners but those who respect history to attend the public resistance meeting at Jericho Hall tonight to help save the local church.

TASMANIAN historian Reg Watson has urged not only Anglican parishioners but those who respect history to attend the public resistance meeting at Jericho Hall tonight to help save the local church.

“While it is important to save St James’ Church, it is important also to save and honour the burial place of John Hutton Bisdee, who lies in the cemetery yard,” Mr Watson said.

John Bisdee was one of the first Australians to be awarded a Victoria Cross, and Southern Midlands Mayor Tony Bisdee, a relation, is part of the new fighting group formed to legally challenge the Anglican Church’s plan to sell off property, including 76 churches, to fund its redress commitments to victims of sexual abuse.

St James’ Church at Jericho, St Mary’s at Kempton and others at Ouse and Bothwell are among those earmarked for sale.

The Save Our Communities Soul group had its first public meeting at Ouse last night and will hold others in Jericho and Bothwell this week. A public rally is also planned for Campbell Town on August 26.

MORE

FIGHT HEATS UP AGAINST ANGLICAN CHURCH SALES

HOW TO RESPOND TO CHURCH SALE PROPOSALS

St James’ church in Jericho. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Historian Reg Watson outside St James Church at Jericho. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

The meeting at Ouse was attended by state Attorney-General Elise Archer and an Anglican Church representative.

St James’ church at Jericho was built in 1883 to replace another erected in 1831. Mr Watson said it would be “most disappointing” if the church and land were sold by the Anglican Church to a private owner.

Trooper J.H. Bisdee was a Victoria Cross recipient who is buried at Jericho.

Trooper J.H. Bisdee grave at Jericho. Pictures: SAM ROSEWARNE

“I am aware the church and land can be purchased for $25,000 by the community and this would be the ideal solution,” he said. “If so, the church can be used for all sorts of things, including a museum, while Bisdee’s last resting place will be preserved as it should be.”

John Hutton Bisdee, together with Guy Wylly, was the first Australian-born Victoria Cross recipient, earning his award on September 1, 1900 in South Africa during the Boer War.

“While it is claimed they were indeed the first Australians to win a VC this is not totally correct,” Mr Watson said.

“The first was Captain Neville Howse, who was awarded on July 24, 1900. However Howes, though serving with the Australians, was actually born in Britain, thus making Bisdee and Wylly the first Australian-born.

“Wylly went to England after the war and never returned. Bisdee had two stints in the Boer War and served with distinction in World War I and is buried at Jericho.”

The meeting will be held at Jericho Hall at 6pm.