As a local history and English teacher, Brenda Stevens-Chambers has always had a keen interest in World War I.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Stevens-Chambers is part of a team of WWI enthusiasts who have helped orchestrate the development of the Brothers In Arms memorial in Westhoek, Belgium.
Researching her own family ties to World War I, Ms Stevens-Chambers was told to visit a tavern in Polygon Wood, Belgium.
"It turns out the publican had unearthed five buried soldiers on his own property when exploring a gas leak one day.
"DNA testing showed them all to be Australian.
What was remarkable about the discovery was that the body of John Hunter was not thrown in the grave like the other four bodies.
"John was wrapped in his groundsheet and his eyes weren't closed.
"What is even more amazing, was that his arms were by his side, but crossed over his chest.
"It shows that he was laid down by someone who loved him," Ms Chambers-Stevens said.
The Polygon Wood publican Ms Chambers-Stevens visited in Belgium was amateur archaeologist and now project coordinator Johan Vandewalle.
Research led the enthusiasts to discover that some of John Hunter's family live in the town of Nanango in Queensland.
Mr Hunter's family remarked that he had been in fact buried by his younger brother, Jim.
Since seeing the sun go down and shine directly into John Hunter's eyes, Mr Vandewalle wanted to memorialise John and Jim Hunter.
That's how the Brothers In Arms memorial concept was born and how Ms Chambers-Stevens became involved.
Attempts to attract the interest of the Australian government in the project failed to yield results, so the group turned to philanthropists in their quest to raise $188,000 for a sculpture memorial of John and Jim Hunter.
"I was emailing billionaires and anyone I thought could donate the money and by June last year, we were successful in coming up trumps with the full amount.
"We were very, very lucky," Ms Chambers-Stevens said.
The philanthropist, who wishes to remain anonymous, will fund the statue's build and freight to Belgium.
The statue is being built in Yarraville by sculptor Louis Lauman.
Since the Brothers In Arms memorial project was set up, hundreds of people have come forward to report the names of Australia brothers who were killed in World War I.
The bronze statue of the Hunter brothers will form the main feature of the Brothers In Arms Memorial Park, located near the site when John Hunter was discovered on Mr Vandewalle's property in Belgium, with the potential for further brothers to be memorialised in the future.
Designed by Soren Hawkes, the sculpture model has progressed to a clay sculpture that is now ready for moulding, prior to the final bronze casting phase.
It is expected that the sculpture will arrive in Belgium close to November's Armistice Day., with Ms Chambers-Stevens to visit once again.
Spurred on by her relatives to maintain her family's own story, Ms Chambers-Stevens said the entire process was fascinating.
"It has become my life and now I'm collecting stories and putting together a compilation of letters from mothers in World War I, as a Brothers in Arms fundraiser.
To learn more, search Brothers In Arms memorial project - Australia on Facebook.