The window was ordered from Brooks, Robinson & Co. in March 1949, by Trooper Matthews' mother, Alice Matthews, for the Presbyterian church at Girgarre. When that church closed, all three of its stained glass windows were incorporated into the new narthex of the Tatura Presbyterian Church. The cartoon for I am the True Vine was adapted from an earlier one made for Christ Church, Skipton in 1938, and a new grape vine design added as border and base panel. Instructions were given for a 'crown and cross' to be inserted in the the base, but instead this was changed to the symbols of Christ's Passion, the crown of thorns and nails from the cross.
John Lloyd Matthews, son of Trevor and Alice Matthews of Girgarre East, was employed as a clerk at McPherson's in Melbourne, although he was at Casino NSW when he enlisted on 25 July 1942. By February 1943 he was en route to Port Moresby from Cairns with 2/7th Cavalry Commando Squadron. In New Guinea and, suffering from bouts of dysentry and malaria from time to time, he was evacuated with the rest of his unit to Cairns in November. He continued to periodically require hospitalisation but returned to New Guinea on 12 November 1944 to take part in the Aitape-Wewak campaign, the squadron's last contribution to the Second World War. Trooper Matthews was killed on 11 May 1945 and is remembered at the Lae War Cemetery, New Guinea.
References & Acknowledgements
AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: B883, VX122009; http://www.cwgc.org/
