THIS year will mark 100 years since World War I began.
Known at the time as the Great War, it turned the world upside down, scarred a generation of young men and women, and left a special stain of grief in Australia – since immortalised as “a sound of gentle sobbing in the south”.
While more than 60,000 Australians were killed during that long terrible struggle, World War I never lived up to its promise as the ’war to end all wars’.
In memory of Australian experiences, both on the front line and for those left at home, the University of New England is playing a lead role in commemorating regional experiences during the war.
UNE is leading the co-ordination of a series of local activities to take place this year.
Centerpiece activities will include the Regional Australia at War public conference, and the Booloominbah Red Cross Convalescent Home public exhibit.
Both of these events will be hosted by UNE during New England History Week, which will run from 11-17 August to coincide with the centenary of both the start of recruitment for the Australian Imperial Force, and the launch of the Australian Red Cross.
Public and Applied History lecturer Dr Nathan Wise, said New England History Week was designed to include and engage the whole local community.
“We invite and encourage individuals, educational institutions, businesses, organisations, and groups from across the New England region to contribute by creating local historically-themed activities during this week,” Dr Wise said.
“Schools might host public tours of historical school buildings, or coordinate student history presentations, while individuals and local families could open their historic homes and gardens.”
UNE will be co-ordinating community activities through its Frontline: New England website, to be launched this month.
The website will provide information on local commemorative events as well as detailing how people could contribute their own family’s history to join the broader community story.
UNE will also work towards preserving important documents and images, offering scanning and archiving of family items such as letters and photographs.
