By Mentone Guides | September 26, 2025
The weekend before Anzac Day, some of the Mentone Girl Guides attended a concert at the Shrine of Remembrance called “The Anzac on the Wall.” Written and performed by Jim Brown and Vince Brophy, the concert featured songs, stories, and poetry. The performance captured the spirit of the Anzacs and their families, “not only caring about their mates but eager to hear news from home. The Aussie ‘Have a go’ spirit was born.” A number of songs were played on the Lone Pine guitar, which was made from a limb of the Lone Pine. This beautiful instrument featured special artwork of a Digger below the Southern Cross with the words from the Ode, “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them,” and “Lest we forget.” The guitar was made by Andy Allen of Maton Guitars and borrowed with kind permission from The Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance.
It was really interesting to listen to the songs and poems they wrote about people going to fight in WW1 and the hardships that their families faced. They had a special guitar made from Lone Pine, planted by a veteran. The tree had to be cut down due to weather. Instead of letting it go to waste, they made a special guitar. I learned that horses are sensitive animals knowing when there master won’t be coming back. Roisin
I liked the show and it wasn’t what I expected. They said that someone took some lone pine back from Gallipoli which was then planted at the shrine. Later the tree was struck by lightning but a guitar maker made it into a guitar that they played. They sang songs and told stories about World War one. I found it interesting. Mary
We went on the train and tram to the Shrine of Remembrance. I wasn’t expecting the theatre to be under the Shrine and we got great seats. The play is the story of Danny Clancy, a light horseman who travelled to Gallipoli and France in WWI. The story was told through music, humour and poetry. They used guitars and people sang along with the words on the screen. They told us the story behind the music. One of the guitars was made from a branch of the Shrines’ old Lone Pine tree. It was the called the Lone Pine guitar. We had a great time and thanks to our leaders! Chloe
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