A digger’s best friend: an A to Z of animals in war
A graphic exhibition based on our hugely successful A is for Animals held at the Memorial between February and July 2009 is touring regional Australia. With generous assistance from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs commemorations program, A Digger’s Best Friend: an A to Z of Animals in War recognises not only military dogs, but all animals that have worked alongside Australians in war for over one hundred years.
Curators of the exhibition have drawn together a fascinating array of images from the Memorial’s National Collection. They include working animals such horses, mules, pigeons and camels – and others equally important as friends: the mascots, pets and companions that gave soldiers affection, hope and relief from the stress of war.
In a twist upon the theme of man’s best friend, the exhibition also delves into those creepy-crawlies from the animal and insect kingdoms that have made life difficult and even deadly for soldiers. Drawings and photographs reveal rats in the trenches, flies in a ration tin and even a monstrous cobra that moved in with the Australian occupants of a four-man tent in Vietnam in 1967.
An exhibition for all ages, A Digger’s Best Friend represents an exciting direction for the Memorial’s travelling exhibition program. Recognising the value of providing families with a museum experience that answers the learning needs of children, the curators have worked closely with teachers and literacy consultants to develop a child-friendly exhibition that encourages children to learn in the company of their adult family.
Gallery | City | State | Start | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eden Killer Whale Museum | Eden | NSW | 5 December 2009 | 31 January 2010 |
Narooma Library | Narooma | NSW | 5 February 2010 | 21 March 2010 |
Narellan Library | Narellan | NSW | 26 March 2010 | 9 May 2010 |
Eskbank House and Museum | Lithgow | NSW | 17 May 2010 | 25 July 2010 |
Peppin Heritage Centre | Deniliquin | NSW | 10 August 2010 | 15 September 2010 |
Parkes Shire Library | Parkes | NSW | 22 October 2010 | 21 November 2010 |
Rosny Historic Centre | Rosny | TAS | 2 December 2010 | 16 January 2011 |
Devonport LINC | Devonport | TAS | 24 January 2011 | 6 March 2011 |
Castlemaine Historical Society | Castlemaine | VIC | 12 May 2011 | 28 June 2011 |