Sport and War

Sport and War

What it means to be Australian is no easy thing to define. But clearly two strong factors in our national identity are sport and war.

Throughout the nation’s history both have featured strongly. Qualities we associate with both sport and war — courage, teamwork, leadership, physical prowess, mateship, loyalty — are readily seen to be fundamental part of the “Australian identity”. Sport has helped shape Australians who have gone to war. And war has helped to shape Australian sport. Both activities have determined not just how Australians see themselves, but how the world sees them.

Drawing on the Memorial’s rich collections, Sport and War tells remarkable stories of the importance of sport to Australians serving overseas, as well as the war-time experiences of some of most loved sporting stars.

Displays include a ‘Brownlow medal’ presented in Changi prisoner of war camp and a well-worn footy jersey from the muddy playing fields of the western front. The tragic loss of Aussie Rules star Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott is explored along with Keith Miller’s career-boosting performances in the 1945 Victory Tests.

This exhibition is supported by Visions of Australia, an Australian Government Program supporting touring exhibitions by providing funding assistance for the development and touring of cultural material across Australia.

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is a proud sponsor of Sport and War. As the governing body that manages, develops and invests in sports in Australia, this partnership reflects how sport and war have both played a major role in shaping Australia's culture and identity.