In 1947 four Australian Defence Force (ADF) officers became the world’s first formal peacekeepers when they were deployed to the Dutch East Indies under the UN Commission in Indonesia (UNCI). It was the start of a continuous commitment by Australia to peacekeeping operations across the globe.

Today over 1000 military, police and civilian personnel from a number of government agencies are deployed around the world continuing this fine tradition. Regrettably 12 Australians have died whilst on peacekeeping operations and many have been injured.

In 2006 a committee was formed in response to growing community desire to erect a national memorial to commemorate the courage, sacrifice, service and valour of Australian Peacekeepers, past, present and future. Committee membership includes representatives from the ADF, the AFP and serving and veterans’ associations from around Australia with a charter to build the memorial. The federal government donated the first funds towards the cost and allocated a site for the memorial on Anzac Parade in Canberra.

Working with the National Capital Authority, the committee commissioned a national competition to seek a suitable design. The response was excellent and four contenders were invited to develop their designs further. In December 2008 the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs The Hon Alan Griffin MP announced that the design submitted by Sydney based architectural firm Super Colossal had won the competition.

Since then Super Colossal has refined its design to production stage in concert with tendering documentation being prepared at no cost by Australian project management firm Woods Bagot. By mid 2009 the project will be ready to seek tenders for the construction of the memorial.

Super Colossal’s principal architect, Marcus Trimble, explains that “what we have tried to convey in the design of the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial is that Australian peacekeepers interpose themselves between belligerent parties, shedding light, comfort and hope to the communities that are affected by the violence and tension.”

The chairman of the project committee, Major General (rtd) Tim Ford AO adds “the memorial has two main elements. The first is a glowing passage of light that is a powerful entry for the Memorial. The passage is between two massive monoliths, raised slightly off the ground. They make up a monumental structure that is the right size for Anzac Parade. The pathway between the two polished cubes glows with an intense golden light. This light evokes the Australian Peacekeepers’ role and their help to local populations.

Marcus continues “as visitors walk through the passage of light they may be reminded of deep canyons in the Australian outback, with towering walls but the uplifting blue sky above. They may feel the warmth and comfort of the light between the two imposing monoliths.” Visitors then come to the second main element of the memorial, a courtyard of intimate size and feel, surrounded by Australian trees. Written in the pavement are words evoking the qualities and sacrifice of Australian Peacekeepers and across the back will be a long horizontal beam recording the many peacekeeping missions in which Australians have served. Beneath the beam will be an inclined plane to receive wreathes and other mementoes. This inner space will be suitable for both formal ceremonies and smaller scale commemoration. It will also be a place of quiet reflection on personal experiences and the significance of peacekeeping.

The project committee hopes to have the memorial erected over the coming 12 months, but before calling tenders for its construction it will need to have raised the necessary funds. To date, a number of companies have made significant donations, as have many serving and veterans’ groups and private individuals, but more is needed.

The Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project

The project is supported by its patron in chief, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General and fellow patrons Mick Keelty APM, Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, John Sanderson AC, former Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force during the period of UN Transition Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), and Geraldine Doogue AO, ABC journalist.

You can help

You have the opportunity to play a part in erecting a permanent reminder to every Australian and visitor to Canberra of Australia’s on-going support and sacrifice to world peace. Any donation will be most welcome. And all donations of $2 or over are tax deductible. Private industry is encouraged to contribute by becoming Friends (>$5,000), Partners (>$25,000) or Champions (>$100,000) of Peacekeeping, and join those companies who have already done so.

To make a donation, (or for more information) simply visit the project website http://www.peacekeepingmemorial.org.au and select “donations” on the menu.

You could also purchase a cute Peacekeeping Bear, a marvelous cuddly toy for a special family member or friend, or maybe just for you! Details are on the website.