The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 52, December 23, 2007, Article 13

ADELAIDE CITY COUNCIL'S VICTORIA CROSS DISPLAY

[The following item touches on the issue of properly 
securing items in museum displays in a discussion about 
a Victoria Cross in Adelaide, Australia. -Editor]

Roy Inwood's VC was displayed in the Council Chamber from 
1972 until 1989 when it was decided to place the original VC 
in secure storage and display a replica of the medal in its 
place in the Chamber. This was prompted by concerns for the 
security of the original medal, and followed extensive 
conjecture in the media about the rising value of these 
precious medals.

Displaying a replica in place of an original is appropriate 
best-practice curatorial management often employed by museums 
and galleries to reduce risk to extremely valuable collection 
items. The real VC was stored in the high security vault at 
the Council's Archives until such time as more adequate 
security could be provided for it to be permanently displayed 
in the Council Chamber.

During 2005 the display of Roy Inwood's original VC medal 
became the subject of considerable media and community interest 
and debate. Some parties called for the medal to be sent to 
the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to be displayed in 
its national VC's Collection. The Council consulted extensively 
with the Inwood family and other stakeholders about what should 
happen to the VC. The majority believed Roy Inwood's dying 
wishes must be honoured and that the medal should remain in 
South Australia and be returned to the Council Chamber where 
he had originally intended it be displayed.

In December 2005, therefore, Council decided to allocate funds 
for the purpose of strengthening security in the Council Chamber 
to permit the VC to be returned there.

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  Wayne Homren, Editor

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