The group put in a successful bid to purchase the war medals of Purnim-born Captain Reg Saunders.

The eight medals were auctioned in Sydney on Friday by Noble Numismatics.

Purnim Community Group was the successful bidder, buying the medals for a $9000 hammer price.

Group member Geoff Rollinson said the final price was close to $11,000, once GST and auction fees were included. 

Mr Rollinson said it was a great win for the community.

“It is magic to have these medals returned to the community where Reg Saunders was born,” Mr Rollinson said.

“I was very nervous waiting to hear if our bid was successful and we were told there was some stiff opposition.”

Mr Saunders, who was the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian Army, served in both the Second World War and the Korean War.

Mr Rollinson said the Purnim Community Group got the money to bid for the medals thanks to contributions from the Gwen and Edna Jones Foundation, Anzac House, the Warrnambool RSL and Moyne Shire Council. 

“We are so thankful to those organisations,” Mr Rollinson.

“Without the funding they provided, these medals would have been lost to the Purnim community.”

Mr Rollinson said the future home of the medals would be decided through consultation with Warrnambool RSL, Moyne Shire Council and Captain Saunders family. He said his group is keen to use the medals to highlight the story of indigenous war service.