The Hagerty Family Cross was donated to the ANZAC Memorial Catholic Chapel of St Paul, Duntroon by the Hagerty Family on the 13 October 2013. Between 2009-2010, then SGT Hagerty was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper working with ADFIS. Whilst on his ROCTFA, Tony visited St Peter’s Basilica where he purchased the cross and donated it to the ‘Ghan Chapel’ in Afghanistan. The cross was blessed by Mons Glynn Murphy who was the deployed Padre at the time.
In October 2012, Tony’s son, CAPT Luke Hagerty was deployed to Afghanistan with the 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment Task Group. As the Chapel was due to be dismantled as part of the Australian Retrograde and End of Mission, Luke was asked by CHAP Damien Ellis who was the deployed Padre if he would return the cross to his father with the Chapels’ regards.
In an unlikely turn of events, WO2 Tony Hagerty was deployed again to Afghanistan in May 2013 to support Operations. Upon the successful return of both father and son together with the cross to Australia, Tony arrived at the idea of presenting the cross to the ANZAC Memorial Catholic Chapel of St Paul.
The Cross is now on display as a witness to the Hagerty Family’s faith in Christ Jesus.
