For all generations, of all Australians, a place to honour, to learn and to heal.
Deeply affected by what he witnessed during the bloody battle of Pozières in 1916, Australia’s first official war correspondent, Charles Bean, was determined that the sacrifice of Australian soldiers should not be forgotten. He envisioned a national war museum and resolved to build what is now the Australian War Memorial. It would act as:
-
A shrine to their memory
-
A museum to house their relics
-
An archive to preserve the record of their thoughts and deeds.
More than a century on, our Memorial is the centre of national commemoration for Australia’s involvement in conflict, telling the stories of Australia’s servicemen and servicewomen and their experiences in war – and more recently in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.
However, the stories of the 100,000 Australian veterans who have served in the past three decades remain mostly untold.
Through the modernisation and expansion of our galleries and buildings we will tell the continuing story of Australia’s contemporary contribution to a better world. In doing so, we will connect the spirit of our past, present and future for generations to come.
In their words
Within its galleries, our Memorial tells the stories of those who serve in Australia’s military forces.
As part of our continuing story, we have featured nine current and recent servicemen and servicewomen.
Each of these people has a story to tell and their stories form a vital part of our narrative. They are a small group representing the broader vision behind the project – through their eyes, we see reflected their sacrifice, service, mateship and courage.
Read their stories below.
