The Australian War Memorial (AWM) in Canberra as released its timetable for the lead-up and commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of World I in November.
Announcing its program of events, the AWM said that during the WWI conflict almost 62,000 Australians died in the service of the nation.
“To mark this moment in history a creative public program at the Australian War Memorial will combine public activities, displays, installations and events for five weeks, starting on 5 October and concluding on Remembrance Day, 11 November,” the Memorial said.
It said key activities would include the installation of 62,000 hand-crafted poppies on the grounds of the Memorial’s Sculpture Garden; The Diggers’ Requiem, a musical composition by AWM artist in residence (6 October); the launch of After the War, the Memorial’s newest special exhibition, on the consequences and aftermath of war (opens 6 October); and Roll of Honour name projections every night from dusk to dawn.
It said there would also be a digital and social media support campaign allowing people to participate in the Memorial’s commemorative activities, regardless of where they live and a beam of light will be projected from the parapet of the Memorial to that Australian Parliament House as a visual reminder for Australia’s leaders of the consequences of war (10 November).
It also announced that photographic images will be projected onto the tree above the statue of Simpson and his donkey in the Memorial grounds (9 to 11 November) and on the night of 10 October there will be an all-night vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark the 25th anniversary since his entombment in 1993.
