Val Dickson (nee Daly) was born in Bacchus Marsh in 1933 and was about 8 years old when the Darley Military Camp was built. At that time she lived in Patterson Street with her Mother and Father and brothers and sisters.
“My brother John and Micky Ginanne met up with some Dutch soldiers they befriended…”
“…used to take them out rabbit shooting and ferreting. The soldiers were experiencing rabbit burrows for the first time and were amazed at the ferrets chasing the rabbits out of the holes and being caught by the nets at the end of the burrows.”
Many years later Val’s brother John Daly while working as a builder with the former Bacchus Marsh Shire, would erect the monument and plaque that now marks the location of the camp to this day.
To read about Val’s amazing recollections of Bacchus Marsh during WWII and the lifelog friendships that were forged with some of the Dutch soldiers who trained at the Darley Military Camp, check out our Facebook page now.