Strengthening French-Australian bonds on Anzac Day
The Sir John Monash Centre, set on the grounds of the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery in northern France, plays a key role in preserving and sharing the story of Australians on the Western Front. In the lead up to Anzac Day this year, the centre commemorated the shared history of Australian and French service in the First World War through a series of events.
On 22 April, a significant concert was held at the Amiens’ Notre-Dame Cathedral to raise funds for the Somme Battlefields for Peace charity and delivered in partnership with the Prefecture of the Somme and Somme Tourisme. A highlight of the evening was a unique and moving performance by the Australian Army Band that showcased the strong and lasting ties between Australia and France.
Local football (soccer) clubs Amiens SC and Montpellier HSC played a commemorative football match to pay homage to Australian soldiers. In the lead up to the game, players visited the Sir John Monash Centre to learn more about the experiences of Australian soldiers on the Western Front. The proceeds from the sale of commemorative scarves were donated to Somme Battlefields for Peace.
After the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial, crowds gathered for the highly anticipated (Australian Rules Football) “Anzac Cup”, which celebrates the strong connection between Australia and Villers-Bretonneux. Opened by Her Excellency Ms Lynette Wood, Australian Ambassador to France, the men’s and women’s Australian “Spirit” sides went head-to-head with the French teams to contest the Sir John Monash and the Caroline Bartlett OAM trophies.
The players were selected to represent Australia in the Anzac Cup based on their own personal or family connections to the ADF. While in Villers-Bretonneux, they were hosted by local families and spent time engaging with their opposition by running community football clinics, sharing a dinner, taking part in a street parade, and holding a combined training session.
‘The interactions between the players and their host families, who volunteer their time, offer an Australian immersion at the heart of French life,’ said Timothée Viola, Visitor Services Officer at the Sir John Monash Centre. ‘The bonds forged each year are lasting symbols of the friendship that unites the people of Villers-Bretonneux and Australia through sport and far beyond.’
Through interactive and immersive experiences, the Sir John Monash Centre tells Australia’s story in the words of those who served in their own voices, through letters, diaries and life-size images, offering visitors a deeper understanding of their service and sacrifice. For more, visit www.sjmc.gov.au.
