Letter from Dora Ohlfsen to Gother Mann

Dear Mr Mann, I am writing this in haste to tell you that Sir Charles Wade is taking several hundreds of Anzac Medals out with him as personal luggage to put them on sale. I want them to be sold on Anzac Day. Sir Charles is one of the Committee together with General Birdwood, Sir John Monash, Mr. R. C.R.Young, Mr Graham Lloyd (Hon. Treasurer) and myself, secretary. We have turned it into a National Fund under the War Charities Act, though of course it is really not a charity, as every one who buys a medal at 2 guineas gets his money worth.
I am asking you therefore to be so very kind and inform the Customs of these facts as that Sir Charles will have no difficulty in getting the medals through the Customs. The proceeds of the medals are donated entirely to the benefit of maimed and permanently disabled Australian and New Zealand Naval and Military Forces.
My plans are to be in Sydney for next Anzac Day, so it is important that the frieze should be executed in bronze, also that I should know what design is required for the end panels. Please cable Graham Lloyd at once if the old intention of having Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci still hold good. I shall have estimates in ten day’s time for bronze and shall ask G. Lloyd to cable them out to you. I have another idea which may appeal to you. It is this. In case the estimates for the bronze are too high to entertain, it might be a good plan to have a plaster cast of the frieze coloured and bring it out with me or send in the usual way as we decided in London; then shipped out. It could be put up until the bronze is ready, or rather, until the prices are possible. Brugo, a Roman founder who was very moderate before the war asks 23 thousand 5 hundred francs (Italian) and 2 thousand francs for the cases and packing. (Present rate of exchange is 43 Italian francs to the pound, instead of 25 as formerly-but of course it might be changing soon, one never knows). It would be just as well for you to have the plaster copy out there in case anything happens to me. In Rome they have put up the friezes in plaster which will eventually be in marble in the Victor Emmanuel Monument. They have been there for about 6 or 7 years, the war having stopped the work temporarily.
Nothing doing here in the artistic world. The artist who fought have not yet found themselves. Those who did not fight are neither fish, flesh nor fowl-sort of stagnation state. I really believe art is dead or hibernating for the moment. You would not enjoy travelling over here yet-frightful prices and unsympathetic conditions. All my best wishes for Xmas. Please cable G. Lloyd as to any decisions as letter-reply takes too long. All friendly remembrances, Dora Ohlfsen.