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THREE years of work will come to fruition on Monday when the Darrel Baldock Memorial is unveiled.
Plans for the memorial were first put in place following Darrel Baldock's state funeral in 2011 and since then $400,000 has been raised to make the tribute a reality.
Baldock's 1966 St Kilda premiership teammate Ian Stewart will perform the public unveiling of the memorial, which is highlighted by a bronze statue, on Monday at 11am at the Latrobe Recreation Ground.
``If Darrel had been living in Victoria the memorial tribute would have been placed at the MCG,'' Stewart said.
Stewart will also provide the keynote address on Monday morning.
Baldock Memorial committee chairman Peter Freshney said that it was at the 2011 funeral that an idea was formed that he should be appropriately recognised.
``He had achieved so much throughout his lifetime and given so generously to his community and beyond,'' he said.
He said after public consultation the response was overwhelming and resulted in the formation of the Darrel Baldock Memorial committee under the auspices of the Latrobe Council.
He said the project had received support from the ``everyday bloke next door'' through to multinational companies and all tiers of government, finally reaching the required $400,000 total.
The memorial centrepiece features a bronze statue of Baldock that sits upon a raised concrete base and includes interpretation panels that provide an extensive insight into his sporting and political career.
``The Doc was an everyday man but he was inspirational and it is through the development of this memorial that the Darrel Baldock Memorial committee hope that others in our community and beyond can be inspired to have a go and do their best in what they aspire to,'' Freshney said.
Sports journalist and commentator Tim Lane will be master of ceremonies at the official opening.
Many of Baldock's former Latrobe teammates who played in the NWFU premiership years from 1969 until 1972 will also be at the unveiling and other guests will include his widow Margaret and close friends Graeme ``Gypsy'' Lee and Pat Mackey who are on the memorial committee.