The mystery of the 'Collins stick'
The Brotherhood's Community Stores receive tonnes of donations from the public each week, but no donation has left the workers so intrigued as the mysterious item they dubbed, the 'Collins stick'.
The 33cm gold-plated stick honours, Arthur William Collins, who was killed in France, in World War I. Records showed Private Collins, from Abbotsford, joined the army aged 22. His father, Arthur Collins Sr, a former Collingwood mayor, submitted a missing person inquiry but was later informed his son was killed in battle at Mouquet Farm near Pozieres.
Ironically, the Brotherhood's founder, Father Gerard Tucker , was stationed near where Private Collins died, helping bury hundreds of fallen soldiers, writing to their next of kin and returning personal belongings to their families.
Continuing Father Tuckers work, Brotherhood employees set out to return the stick to the Collins family. A story in the Herald Sun newspaper led to Arthur Collins' niece, Elizabeth Pearce, claiming the item. The 79 year-old was delighted by the find and chose to donate it to the Alphington RLS for others to see. Unfortunately the full history of the stick remains unknown, even to the family members.
The Brotherhood connections continue, because, coincidentally, Elizabeth volunteered at the Brotherhood's Community Store in Deer Park for four years!