The $40,000 Anzac Spirit artwork, purchased by Perth businesswoman Rhonda Peploe and donated to the City of Albany, is now on permanent display at the National Anzac Centre.
Ms Peploe and her husband Rick Peploe were thanked for donating the copper creation by Albany artist Brad Lucas at a morning tea at the Vancouver Arts Centre on Tuesday morning.
Ms Peploe said it was a great honour for her to be involved in this process and that it would open doors for the next generation.
“It’s the Anzac connection. We came here for the remembrance weekend and thought this has to stay in Albany,” she said. “We were at the Anzac Centre the day before and thought what a wonderful centre – it’s second to none.”
Mr Peploe, the former owner of the Dog Rock Motel, said they fell in love with Lucas’ creation.
“I find it so unusual; the mixture of the two metals creates a ghostly image – it’s very clever,” he said.
Albany City Mayor Dennis Wellington said the city was “deeply grateful” for the donation.
He said that for the move to the National Anzac Centre, the sculpture would be cut into three pieces and – appropriately – placed on a horse-drawn cart.
Mrs. Peploe’s grandmother, Mary Selby, moved to Albany with four children in 1910.
