ArchivesACT has used its November Find of the Month to pay tribute to the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918.
Archives revisited its November 2015 Find of the Month which explored the planning and naming of the Remembrance Nature Park in 1978 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice.
“With Remembrance Day not far away, we thought it would be fitting to reflect by re-visiting this article,” Archives said.
It said Canberra citizen Honor Thwaites’ vision for the Remembrance Nature Park in Campbell led to the creation of the urban refuge.
“Located behind the Australian War Memorial, at the foot of Mount Ainslie, the park is a lovely setting for the purpose of reflection,” Archives said.
“The story of how this passionate Canberra citizen became the driving force behind positive community action, and the impetus for Government policy change, shows how this lasting memorial was created within our city,” it said.
“On the 22 February 1977, Honor sent a copy of her written plan, which she called ‘Proposal for a PEACE AND FREEDOM NATURE PARK behind the AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL’, to the Minister for the Capital Territory, Anthony Allan ‘Tony’ Staley and National Capital Development Commission (NCDC) Secretary-Manager Kevin John Curtis.”
Archives said Mrs Thwaites’ proposal detailed how, with the help of community and school groups, the area for the park could be cleaned up and replanted with native shrubs and trees.
The Agency said that of the community groups who supported the proposed park, the RSL was the most vocal.
It said that by July 1978, then Minister for the Capital Territory, Robert James ‘Bob’ Ellicott approved of the park’s concept, however, he held reservations about the name Mrs Thwaites originally proposed.
“One file note considered the name of Peace and Freedom Nature Park as ‘rather an unfortunate choice’ although didn’t explain why,” Archives said.
“Ellicott also found it ‘rather long for common usage’ and suggested the name Freedom Park as more appropriate.”
It said Mr Ellicott asked Mrs Thwaites to consider another name for the park and in September 1978, following consultation with the RSL, the park name was confirmed as Remembrance Nature Park.
“In just under two years, Honor’s vision came to pass when the Commonwealth Government officially declared Campbell Section 62 the ‘Remembrance Nature Park’ on the 11th of November 1978,” Archives said.
ArchivesACT’s November Find of the Month can be accessed at this PS News link.
