Director's foreword

I’ve been looking over my 2002 diary to reflect on the main issues that concerned War Graves during the year. I can now see our year was dominated by the construction of overseas memorials and the considerable war graves restoration work undertaken in Papua New Guinea on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The 60th anniversary years of World War II have again highlighted our relatively new business of constructing and maintaining overseas memorials. It is rewarding to note that at each of the sites where we have constructed memorials, visitor numbers have increased enormously.

It is inevitable that life will never again be the same for our National Office, following the growth in our external commitments and the stimulated interest in Australian war graves overseas. The changing security environment has made our overseas tasks so much more challenging and we have, as a result, worked very closely with our overseas embassies and high commissions both in constructing memorials and in conducting services.

The year started with our then-new Minister Danna Vale MP officiating at the dedication of the Garden of Remembrance in Darwin. Our intention was to create something new and refreshing and from the reaction of those who attended the dedication, we succeeded. Details of the new Garden are included in this Journal.

We then turned our attention to the first of two other Gardens in Townsville and Canberra. But despite the development of an exciting new concept for our Garden on the Anzac Park foreshore supported by the Townsville City Council, the Queensland Heritage Council did not approve our plans. The amendments they require would adversely affect the functionality of the Gardens, so we will now seek another Townsville site and progress the new Canberra Gardens instead.

The second half of 2002 was one of our busiest periods on record. We had just advised Prime Minister Howard that because of difficulties we were experiencing integrating the various design elements of the Australian War Memorial to be built in London, we had no option other than to terminate our existing agreements with our designers and start afresh. This was a great disappointment, not only for us, but for all those involved with the project.

A new target date of Remembrance Day 2003, the 85th anniversary of the Armistice of the First World War, was agreed and work commenced on conducting a sophisticated design competition involving 12 of Australia’s foremost architectural firms. Four firms were selected by a panel of experts and all four entries were judged as suitable for submission to London authorities. However, the design by architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer and artist Janet Laurence, both of Sydney, was endorsed unanimously by the panel.

We have now successfully presented their winning design to London authorities and expect to gain approval to construct early in 2003. It makes the challenge for completion by November 2003 a most difficult goal, but still achievable given all we have learned about the Hyde Park Corner site and the expectations of London authorities.

The other task that consumed so much staff effort in the latter half of 2002 was the construction of three major memorials in Papua New Guinea, at Isurava on the Kokoda Track, at Alatou, Milne Bay and Popendetta. It was an extraordinary achievement to construct these memorials in the time available, given their location and prevailing weather patterns. Construction of the Isurava Memorial, relying as it did on helicopters both for construction materials and for the movement of people to the dedication ceremony, was a tremendous success in view of the limitations the site imposed.

The growth in activities since 1998 has seen a small increase in National Office staff numbers. The number of field staff has also grown slightly in response to the increase in post-war official commemorations. I recognise that all War Graves staff contribute to the outcomes we seek to achieve and would like to compliment them on their achievements in 2002. I am most grateful for the support from Secretary, Dr Neil Johnston, who has been most understanding in allowing these staff increases to occur.

I hope you enjoy the Journal for 2002.

Gary Beck
Director