Gundagai Memorial &
Commemoration Project
Our story.....
Gundagai’s decision to establish this memorial honours both the Battle of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral and its Victoria Cross for Australia recipient, Richard Norden, who was born and raised in the district.
On 14 May 1968, outside the wire at Fire Support Base Coral, Private Norden’s actions earned him the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), presented by Sir Roden Cutler, then Governor of New South Wales, who remarked at the time, “what does one have to do nowadays to win the Victoria Cross?”
Many of Norden’s fellow soldiers shared that view. Their determination led to appeals to the Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal. After two submissions and more than four years of review, the award was upgraded to the Victoria Cross for Australia on 11 November 2024.
While the memorial project began as a tribute to Richard Norden, it soon became clear that his story could not be told in isolation. It is inseparable from the Battle of Coral–Balmoral—one of the largest and most sustained battles fought by Australian forces in Vietnam, yet one that has remained relatively unrecognised.
This memorial stands not only as a tribute to one man, but as a national commemoration of all those who served and fought at Coral and Balmoral, recognising their courage, sacrifice and enduring legacy.
Transforming history into a lasting memorial
For Liam Hardy, a leadmg Australian bronze sculptor, being selected to create the Richard Norden VC and Battle of Coral-Balmoral Memorial was both a privilege and a significant responsibility.
As the founder of Sculpt Studios, he approached the project with a strong awareness of its historical importance, recognising it as an opportunity to contribute to Australia’s shared memory. The project was not only about commemorating the heroism of Gundagai’s Richard Norden VC, but also about acknowledging the service and sacrifice of the many soldiers involved in the Battle of Coral-Balmoral during the Vietnam War in 1968.
Mr Hardy first become involved in creating the sculpture after being approached by the Gundagai RSL Sub branch. From that moment, what followed was not just another commission, but the beginning of a significant journey, and one that would require careful research, artistic precision, and a deep respect for the courage and sacrifice of those whose story the memorial seeks to honour.
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“I was contacted by (Gundagai RSL secretary) Paul Vercoe after he saw some of my work on our website. After sending him more examples and showing him the approach to my sculptures, I was lucky enough to be shortlisted for the project,” Mr Hardy said.
“It is always an honour to be involved in commemorating important events in our shared history.
Over 60,000 young men served [in the Vietnam War] and about a quarter of those were conscripted. Australia’s contribution was significant and to be part of a team in 2026 to depict Richard Norden VC’s heroism as one instance of the innumerable brave acts that would have taken place is taken very seriously.”
Mr Hardy thinks of it as an opportunity to contribute to the cultural history of Australia, to give something back to the communities “that lost so many good men and women during Australia’s armed conflicts”. “It not only memorialises the events and people, but it looks forward as cautionary tales to hopefully prevent Australia getting dragged into future conflicts and humanises the reality of what troops are exposed to,” he said.
Liam Hardy
