THE war effort needs you – will you heed the call?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A large gathering of locals turned out to the Bega Pioneers’ Museum on Saturday for the grand launch of The Great War exhibition, with its initial theme of “Recruitment – Patriotism, Persuasion and Pressure”.
The exhibition explores stories of wartime and its impact on the Far South Coast.
It will run for the next four years in commemoration of WW1 and the many lives affected.
The Great War – Tales from the Far South Coast was officially opened on Saturday morning by Bega Valley Historical Society patron Mike Kelly, society president George Morrow and Bega Valley Shire Deputy Mayor Liz Seckold.
The official guests were given a grand welcome of their own by members of the Bemboka Troop 7th Light Horse in full uniform who took post outside the museum.
Mr Morrow then welcomed the invited guests and outlined the premises behind the new exhibition on the Great War – “I don’t think it was called World War 1 until World War 2,” he said.
The significance of the war’s recruitment of volunteers from all over Australia could not be understated.
“Around 410,000 people enlisted,” Mr Morrow said, “60,000 of those were killed and that’s not including those who suffered greatly upon their return to Australia.”
“On the Far South Coast, about 1000 enlisted and 190 didn’t return,” he added, saying the figures remain a little elastic despite significant research by local historians including Pat Raymond and Peter Lacey – both of whom were at Saturday’s opening.
“It’s hard to comprehend the impact of that loss on this region.
“These are the stories we are trying to tell here.
“The stories of service and sacrifice are very important, but will be told over and over again.
“We are focusing on those who stayed behind and on when the men returned.”
Mr Morrow said the current theme of Recruitment will run for 9-12 months before being refreshed a number of times throughout the four years of the project.
“This is the transition story of initial enthusiasm to the conscription debate that divided the nation,” he said.
Dr Kelly said the Pioneers Museum was like a “walk-in family album” for him and the latest additions to its walls are “stories that should never be lost”.
“These are stories to admire and to cry over,” Dr Kelly said.
“During that initial rush of patriotic fervour it still must have been difficult for people to leave this area as it is so dependent on the men and sons to keep farms going.
“Then later, when the rose-coloured glasses were well and truly off, I remain particularly impressed by those who volunteered knowing what war was really like.
“People tend to focus on the big set battles, but forget about the day to day grind in the trenches with constant attrition and losing your mates every day.
“The impact in towns like Bega was enormous,” he said.
“We sacrificed an entire generation and who knows what that generation could have achieved [had there not been a war].”
Dr Kelly said thankfully conflicts are not to that scale anymore, but there would always be a call to arms “in the knowledge that tyranny needs to be confronted”.
“Most days we strive to avoid war…but for someone who would put a bullet in the head of a girl because she wants to get an education, there is no negotiation.
“By remembering these sacrifices, we can’t help but make this a better country.”
The Great War – Tales from the Far South Coast is open at the Bega Pioneers’ Museum until November 11, 2018.
The museum is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week from 10am until 4pm, and on Saturdays from 10am until 2pm.
The exhibition was made possible through the Federal Government Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program and funding from the Bega Valley Shire Council.