Family thrill over war memento
The mysterious wartime keepsake, dubbed 'the Collins stick', that was discovered amid tonnes of donations at the Brotherhood's Brunswick sorting centre, has been returned to the family.
After making the discovery of the unusual donation, Brotherhood employees resolved to reunite the memorial stick, given in tribute to a World War I soldier, with its rightful owners.
A descendant of Arthur William Collins, killed in France, came forward after the 33cm gold plated item was featured in the Herald Sun.
Niamh O’Malley from the Brotherhood said the fallen private’s niece, 79-year-old Elizabeth 'Wendy' Pearce, had contacted her after hearing the stick had been found.
'She is very excited,' Ms O’Malley said.
Ms Pearce, a former Brotherhood of St Laurence volunteer, said she wanted to donate the stick — the full history of which remains unknown — to an RSL.