The Lone Solider
Walgett NSW’s Man on the Monument
Gifted to Walgett from France, this lone marble soldier has stood at the heart of the town for more than a century. Dedicated in 1922, he was given to honour the local men who left their homes, never to return.
Behind every name remembered on a war memorial was a life. Someone who was loved - A lost son. A brother. A father. A husband. A friend.
Our memorials do not celebrate war. They are places of respect and gratitude for all who have served, and for those who continue to serve today.
The Lone Soldier gives those memories a face. He reminds us of the cost of freedom and of the lives and families touched by service and loss.
Restoring What Was Deemed Impossible
In 2021, a heavy vehicle struck the memorial, causing extensive damage to the marble soldier. The original was considered beyond repair. Carl Valerius was asked to create a new soldier to take his place at the centre of the roundabout. Carl hand-carved the new soldier in Italian marble, carefully recreating the figure that had become such a familiar part of Walgett. But rather than accept that the original could not be saved, Carl also undertook the painstaking work of restoring him by hand. Three years later, in 2023, the two soldiers returned to Walgett.
The restored original was placed in Walgett’s RSL Memorial Park, while the new soldier returned to the centre of the roundabout. That is why there are now two.
One carries more than a century of history. The other carries that history forward. Both stand as a reminder of the men and women they represent.
A New Chapter for Walgett
From here, a new chapter begins.
We are honoured to announce that The Lone Soldier will return home on Remembrance Day, 11 November 2026, alongside a new 2.4 x 1.2 metre relief created by Val May Studio.
The new work reflects on the memories carried long after service, the experiences, sacrifices and emotions that can remain long after the battlefield has been left behind. It is a tribute to those who have served, those who continue to serve, and the animals who stood beside them with loyalty and courage.
We are deeply honoured that the Walgett RSL Sub-Branch has entrusted Carl and Kim with the responsibility of bringing this important story to life. We offer our heartfelt gratitude to the Walgett RSL Sub-Branch for their trust and support in allowing us to share this important story through this commissioned work, with special thanks to Robert Ward and Kathy Baker for their support throughout this journey.
For now, we will leave the full story of the relief to be revealed on Remembrance Day. Our hope is that these works will help bring the community together, creating a place to remember, reflect and share in something that speaks to the enduring experience of service and sacrifice. We would love you to be there to witness the unveiling of the Lone Soldier and the new relief. Carl and Kim will be there alongside Robert and Kathy, sharing this heartfelt moment with the Walgett community as a new chapter begins.
10.00am
11 November 2026
Walgett RSL Memorial Park
70 Fox Street, Walgett NSW 2832
The unveiling will be followed by a Remembrance Day service led by Robert Ward.
A soldier returns home.
A story is waiting to be revealed.
And a community comes together.
When History Repeated Itself
In 2025, the restored original was vandalised. His arm was damaged, and his marble rifle was stolen. Then, in 2026, the Lone Soldier was smashed to pieces. The damage was devastating. Once more, a sculpture that had survived for more than a century was facing what appeared to be an almost impossible repair. But he was entrusted to Carl and Kim at Val May Studio. They will restore him. His rifle will be reinstated as part of the restoration, with reinforced metal pins and an anti-graffiti coating to help protect him into the future.
These acts of vandalism do more than damage marble. They fracture the things a community holds together - its places, its memories and its sense of belonging. Together with the Walgett RSL Sub-Branch, we hope that restoring the Lone Soldier can help heal some of those wounds. Because this is not simply about repairing a statue. It is about bringing back a place of remembrance, restoring something that belongs to the whole community, and honouring the people whose names and stories he has carried for generations.
Specialist Conservation & Restoration
Restoring a historic marble memorial requires more than repairing damaged stone. It requires patience, knowledge and a deep respect for the sculpture and what it represents. Val May Studio combines traditional hand carving with specialist conservation techniques to restore significant sculptures and memorials while retaining as much of their original character and history as possible.
For the Lone Soldier, the restoration includes:
Careful assessment of the damaged marble.
Specialist reconstruction and repair of broken areas.
Hand carving and finishing to retain the character of the original sculpture.
Reconstruction and reinstatement of the damaged rifle.
Reinforced metal pinning for additional structural support.
Application of an anti-graffiti coating to help protect the marble into the future.
Careful finishing sympathetic to the original work.
The aim is not to make the soldier new. It is to save the soldier that Walgett already knows and remembers.
A Community Remembers
The soldier has been broken more than once, but each time, the people of Walgett have wanted him back. Perhaps that is because he represents something much bigger than himself. He carries a shared memory and a shared history. A place where generations can pause and remember those who served, those who never came home, and the families who carried their loss. Restoring this soldier is about more than repairing marble. It is about caring for something that belongs to the whole community, preserving a place of remembrance and ensuring that his story, and the stories he represents, continue to be honoured. When he stands again, he will once again be there for Walgett.
A familiar face.
A shared history.
A quiet place to remember.
And a reminder that those who served, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, are not forgotten.
If you would like to read more about The Lone Soldier