Arrival of Albert Borella’s Victoria Cross
Albert Borella’s Victoria Cross arrived in Darwin yesterday, accompanied by Rowan Borella – son of Albert Borella – and wife, Mary.
The Victoria Cross was escorted in an Armaguard vehicle to Parliament House by police and ASLAVs. It was greeted by representatives from the Australian Defence Force on the steps of Parliament, and handed to His Honour the Honourable John Hardy AO Administrator of the Northern Territory who brought it into the Main Hall. The Serjeant at Arms placed the Victoria Cross, along with Borella’s full medal group and a Luger pistol he souvenired on the battlefield, into the display. The Albert Borella Victoria Cross Exhibition is open to the public daily until 2 March 2015.
The Territory is also fortunate to have in the exhibition the replica medals of Corporal Cameron Baird VC which have been kindly loaned by his parents, in cooperation with the Australian Army.
It was a great pleasure to have Rowan and Mary Borella present to see the Victoria Cross placed into the display. It is thanks to their generosity that the Northern Territory is hosting the Victoria Cross for a short time.
School students from Woodroffe Primary School, Palmerston Senior College, Rosebery Primary and the winners of the Anzac Spirit Study Awards were also present.
The Albert Borella Victoria Cross Exhibtion
When
Starts: 03 February, 2015 @ 1:00pm
Ends: 02 March, 2015 @ 4:00pm
Where
Main Hall, Parliament House
About
The Albert Borella Victoria Cross Exhibition is now open in the Main Hall of Parliament House, Darwin. The exhibition is free and open to the public daily until 2 March 2015.
The Territory is honoured to have Albert Borella’s Victoria Cross on display, thanks to the generosity of the Borella family.
Rarely seen in public, Borella’s Victoria Cross is held in private collection. Of the 100 Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians, only eleven are held privately.
Born in Victoria in 1881, Albert Borella’s military service record was highly distinguished. He had a capacity for endurance, fearlessness and immediate action; hallmarks of his achievements on the battlefield and the reason he was awarded the highest military honour possible, the Victoria Cross.
Together with Albert Borella’s medals and a Luger pistol he souvenired on the battlefield, the Territory is also fortunate to have the replica medals of Corporal Cameron Baird VC which have been kindly loaned by his parents, in cooperation with the Australian Army.
Corporal Cameron Baird lost his life in his final act of bravery in Afghanistan in 2013. His medals are a reminder that the spirit and valour of soldiers such as Albert Borella are still exemplified in our military today.
The Albert Borella Victoria Cross display is a programmed element of The Borella Ride.
The Commonwealth Government through the Anzac Centenary Public Fund and the Northern Territory Government are proud to support The Borella Ride, the flagship Anzac Centenary commemorative event for the Northern Territory.
Exhibition Hours:
Monday to Friday – 10am – 5pm
Weekends – 1pm – 5pm
Please note the Victoria Cross medal will not be on display on 20 and 21 February.
