Report to Government

3Commemoration

The aims of this chapter are to outline the Board’s views on:

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  the scope and importance of commemoration during the Anzac Centenary
  
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  the special relationship with New Zealand
  
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  commemorative services and events
  
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  Hands of Friendship
  
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  calendar of domestic and international commemorative services and events
  
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  protocol for senior-level attendance at Anzac Day services
  
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  convoy commemorative event, Albany
  
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  memorials
  
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  Centenary overlay on a range of events, services and activities.
  

Scope and importance

3.1Commemoration is about acknowledging, remembering, respecting and valuing the service and sacrifice of Australian servicemen and servicewomen who have served, and continue to serve, Australia and its allies in war and peacekeeping operations. It also connects Australians at a personal level to the nation’s military heritage and the Anzac inheritance. The Board has no doubt that the Anzac Centenary period will be a time when Australians will want to engage in commemorative activity in substantially greater numbers. Australians, including younger generations, have shown through their attendance at Anzac Day services that the emotional link to the Anzac heritage is strong and growing stronger, despite the passing years and the huge changes in Australia’s society, culture and demographic make-up since 1914–18. There are several main reasons for this:

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  many Australians, including immigrants in the decades since the First World War, have family links with those who fought or have been otherwise affected by war. They have deep personal reasons to remember and acknowledge the loss, sacrifices and experiences of their forebears and relatives. It is likely that the combination of growing interest in family history and the Anzac Centenary will lead many other Australians to discover ‘Diggers’ in their family trees
  
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  whether they have personal links to those who fought or not, Australians want to understand their military past and what it tells them about themselves and Australia’s place in the world
  
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  many of our most cherished collective values are felt acutely in periods of war and conflict
  
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  the service and sacrifices in our own time by members of the Australian Defence Force, and the growth of terrorism, are constant and often painful reminders that it is not a peaceful world and the experiences of Australia at war remain vitally important and relevant.
  

3.2There are recognised international, national, state and territory, and local places and events that are the focus of commemoration for Australians, especially at:

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  the Australian War Memorial
  
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  national and international days of remembrance and observance, especially those focused on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, but also on anniversaries of important campaigns, battles and service
  
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  Australia’s overseas war memorials, commemorative sites and cemeteries, such as the Anzac Commemorative Site, Gallipoli and the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France
  
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  national memorials to commemorate those who served in particular wars or types of service, especially memorials along Anzac Parade in Canberra
  
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  state and territory capital city memorials, e.g. the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and the Anzac Memorial in Sydney
  
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  war cemeteries, graves, memorials, honour rolls etc spread across urban, rural and regional areas.
  

3.3These sites and anniversaries will be increasingly important during the Centenary period. Accordingly, the Board is focusing attention on what needs to be done to enhance them, and to enhance Australians’ involvement with them.

3.4The Australian Government has already provided some additional funding support to improve these memorial and commemorative opportunities. This includes $27 million to refurbish the First World War galleries at the Australian War Memorial; $8.1 million to refurbish official war graves, cemeteries and memorials; and $14.4 million for the running of commemorative services overseas in 2015. Additionally, $5 million was committed in the 2007–08 Budget for the Australian War Memorial in Wellington, New Zealand, and $10 million was committed in the 2009–10 Budget to develop the Australian Remembrance Trail.

3.5Preparations need to be taken to cater for an unprecedented increase in Australians wishing to engage in commemorative activity during the Centenary period. The Board believes targeted efforts need to be made to meet this increased level of interest. These proposed initiatives are outlined below.

Special relationship with New Zealand

3.6The Anzac Centenary is a time to remember and commemorate publicly the special relationship between Australia and New Zealand that was forged in battle at Gallipoli in 1914. The relationship has continued to grow and deepen since then. Both nations use the term ‘Anzac’ with justifiable pride. This relationship is alive and strong today, and joint activities with New Zealand must form a central element of the Centenary commemorations and be reflected across the three streams of activity proposed by the Board. Illustrative examples include:

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  a proposal for several Australia–New Zealand Anzac scholarships
  
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  involvement of New Zealanders in a Hands of Friendship ceremony at Gallipoli
  
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  construction of an Australian War Memorial in the National War Memorial precinct in Wellington, New Zealand. The memorial will commemorate the shared efforts of both countries in both war and peace, and will complement the Australia–New Zealand Memorial on Canberra’s Anzac Parade
  
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  a joint war art exhibition
  
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  no doubt, numerous joint sporting events. The Board notes that Australia and New Zealand will jointly host the Cricket World Cup in 2015 and the Rugby Union World Cup will also take place in 2015. There is also a possibility of a tri-nations soccer tournament involving Turkey, New Zealand and Australia around Anzac Day 2015.