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Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester said the Sir John
Monash Centre would introduce new audiences to the selfless
contribution of Australian men and women during the First
World War.
The Hon Darren Chester MP
“The story of Australians on the Western Front deserves to be Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
better known in both Australia and Europe,” Mr Chester said. Minister for Defence Personnel
“Gallipoli holds a special place in our nation’s story, but our Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC
greatest achievements and heaviest losses of the First World
War were in France and Belgium. MEDIA RELEASE – Sunday 29 April 2018
National commemoration for the 75 Anniversary of the
th
“When war broke out, Australia had to mount an entirely Battle of the Atlantic
voluntary army. Ordinary men and women signed up and
answered the call, and found themselves in extraordinary VETERANS and their direct relatives will meet in Canberra to
circumstances on the other side of the world.” recognise the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic,
which was critical to the Allied victory in the Second World
War.
Mr Chester said the Sir John Monash Centre offered an
innovative and engaging way of presenting history, offering an
immersive multimedia experience. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester paid tribute to
the Australians who served during the Battle of the Atlantic
and said that had the Allies lost here the war might have taken
“This is an interpretive centre rather than a museum in the a very different course.
traditional sense. It is underpinned by sophisticated
technology that will be seamless and appeal to visitors of all
ages and origins,” Mr Chester said. “The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest military campaign
of the Second World War, beginning in September 1939 and
concluding almost six years later with the surrender of
“A team of historians and multimedia specialists have drawn
on archival research from throughout the world, including the Germany on 8 May 1945,” Mr Chester said.
extensive war records in Australia, to present the soldiers’
stories in their own words. “Supply routes across the Atlantic Ocean were vital to the
Allies, as Britain relied on shipping for almost everything it
needed to survive, including war materiel, food, fuel and
“The resulting experience will be self-paced and guided via
the Centre’s app. More than 450 Bluetooth beacons will reinforcements. Germany sought to isolate Britain by severing
determine visitors’ locations and prompt servers to launch the Atlantic shipping lanes, waging a campaign that cost the
video content to one of the nearest 450 screens and 10 lives of tens of thousands of sailors on both sides.”
projectors.
“The Battle of the Atlantic was fought over thousands of miles
across the war’s most dangerous shipping lanes. It involved
“Visitors will receive content via their personal devices, in a
choice of three languages – English, French and German. submarines, ships and aircraft, code-breakers, intelligence
operatives and thousands of civilian seamen and merchant
mariners. More than 3,000 British and Allied ships were sunk
“This is a very ambitious project – one that will further
increase visitation on the Australian Remembrance Trail and some 30,000 Allied and merchant seamen were lost.”
along the Western Front and one that my department is proud The 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic will be
to deliver on time and under budget.
marked with a national commemoration to be held at the
Australian War Memorial.
“Many Australians have an ancestor who fought and/or died
in the First World War, and I encourage everyone to know that “The award of some 5,000 Atlantic Stars to Australian service
story and to visit the Sir John Monash Centre on their own personnel and merchant mariners gives us a sense of how
journey of remembrance.”
many men from our shores risked their lives in this campaign.
Australians reflect with gratitude on the contribution of our
Australian firms Cox Architecture and Convergence
Associates designed the architectural and interpretive service men and merchant seamen to the Battle of the
Atlantic and this will be demonstrated at a national
elements for the Sir John Monash Centre, while Wildbear commemoration to be held in their honour,” Mr Chester said.
Entertainment produced the multimedia content, and
Melbourne based Transpire developed the interactive Audio
Visual platform. “The efforts of thousands of Australians helped pave the way
to an eventual Allied victory in the Second World War and we
will never forget their sacrifice and service.”
For more information visit www.sjmc.gov.au.
The national commemoration will commence at 1pm on 1
May 2018.
Media Contacts:
Whil Prendergast: 0427 672 815 **Biographical information for veterans is available**
DVA Media: 02 6289 6466
Media Contacts:
Whil Prendergast: 0427 672 815
DVA Media: 02 6289 6466