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Keeping
history current
Australian War Memorial seeks your
personal records
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Assistant
Curator of Private Records Kate Walker says each collection
is a unique insight into Australia’s experience of war.
Photo provided by AWM
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The Australian
War Memorial (AWM) seeks your help in maintaining its official history
of recent operations.
Assistant Curator of AWM’s Private Records collection Kate Walker
says although the collection boasts in excess of 8000 private records,
more than half relate to WW1 with few records relating recent conflicts
and peacekeeping operations.
“We strongly encourage current and past service personnel to
contribute to this legacy,” she said.
Ms Walker says the collection consists mainly of donations from service
personnel and their families and includes material from 1832 through
to the current conflicts.
However, the AWM is greatly interested in receiving more relating
to operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor and post ’45 conflicts
and stresses the importance of retaining e-mails as in many instances
they have taken the place of letters.
“Most collections consist of items such as diaries and letters
or e-mails to family, as well as miscellaneous items such as service
papers, certificates, photographs, postcards, and scrapbooks.
“Private records provide unique insights into an individual’s
experiences and emotions during war.
“They are an enduring part of Australia’s military heritage
and it is through these sorts of records future generations will learn
about the service of today’s service men and women.
“Undoubtedly, WW1 soldiers never considered that their diaries
and letters would provide an invaluable source for understanding WW1
and similarly, diaries, e-mails and letters relating to peacekeeping
operations will contribute significantly, especially to the AWM’s
upcoming publication of Australia’s official peacekeeping history
and the re-development of its post ’45 galleries.
“For a civilian, understanding the conditions and experiences
of personnel serving in a war or peacekeeping operation is not easy.
“What better way to gain some insight than to read a diary, letters
or e-mails written by a soldier?
“Our Private Records collection provides this opportunity to
all Australians.”
Collections are documented, with the catalogue available on the AWM
website, and objects are accessible at the AWM Research Centre and
are promoted through a variety of means including public talks, exhibitions
and online displays.
AWM also makes a point that to acurately capture the personal sentiments
and experiences from across the ADF, they strongly encourage contributions
from all ranks and services.
Anyone interested in making a donation should contact the AWM Research
Centre on (02) 6243 4315. Further information about the Private Records
collections is available through the AWM website at www.awm.gov.au. |
