Anniversary orations
Since 2001 an oration has been delivered on the evening of the Memorial's anniversary, or on a convenient date nearest to it. Past orations include:
| Date | Title | Speaker | Outline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 November 2001 | The Blainey Oration | Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Blainey | Discussed the First World War which gave rise to the Memorial, and the situation in Australia when the Memorial was opened in 1941. |
| 11 November 2003 | The Korean War and Australia | Robert O’Neill AO | Spoke of enhanced displays and interpretations in the galleries over the years before speaking about how particpation in the Korean War affected Australia's future course. |
| 11 November 2004 | Gallipoli in a Nation’s Remembrance | Les Carlyon | How Gallipoli means different things to different people: the facts stand up for themselves, but are mixed up with legend, myths and symbolism. |
| 11 November 2005 | Vietnam - 30 years on | Paul Kelly | Reflections on a war that divided the nation 30 years later. He said it was a complex war in its origins and nature. Australia's commitment was evaluated, and the terms of the nation's reconcilliation to the legacy described. |
| 10 November 2006 | Was there a Battle for Australia? | Dr Peter Stanley | He posed the question of how war touched Australian shores in 1942, was there a Battle for Australia subsequently and what did it involve. |
| 9 November 2007 | On writing official history | Ashley Ekins | The co-author, with the late Dr Ian McNeill, of the last two volumes of the official history discussed his work and related issues. |
| 11 November 2008 | Architecture and the Australian War Memorial | Richard Johnson MBE | Additions to the Memorial's site must complement and not detract from the heritage listed main building: interactions with Memorial staff in doing this were discussed |
| 11 November 2009 | ANZAC Day and the Australian psyche | Professor Kim Beazley AC | ANZAC Day was said to be "powerfully salient in national memory. It has its critics," but was said to be "our one unconfected, popular moment of deep commemoration." |
| 11 November 2010 | Looking forward - looking back | Steve Gower | Reflected on 15 years as Director and where the Memorial might develop in future. |
| 11 November 2011 | Reflections on 'Service and sacrifice' | Air Chief Marshall Angus Houston (ret'd) | A reflection on the almost 100 years of ‘Service and Sacrifice’ of our defence personnel and on the toll of war on Australian lives, families and society. |
| 12 November 2012 | Anzac Day's early rituals | Professor Bill Gammage AM |
* These speeches were given to mark the anniversary of the opening of the Australian War Memorial on 11 November 1941.
