Capital history in the news
Before Belconnen
The story of Major General Legge | Tim the Yowie Man explains that yes Major General Legge who introduced the annual cavalry rides for cadets into the Brindabella was the same general who farmed at Cranleigh from 1922 until ill health forced his retirement to Melbourne in 1947. Latham, Flynn, Florey, Higgins, and Scullin now occupy his former property. Major General Legge is pictured above.
International Nurses Day 2020
Years of saving lives: The Australian Red Cross | National library of Australia honours healthcare professionals and volunteers by focusing on the history of the Australian Red Cross which is represented in their collection and the subject of Melanie Oppenheimer’s featured article.
International Nurses Day | The Australian War Memorial has also marked International Nurses Day by drawing attention to the vital role nurses have played in Australia’s military history and how nursing is represented in the Memorial’s collection. This includes some favourite images from the collection. See here for these.
War memorial news
Australian War Memorial development project referred to parliamentary inquiry | Governor-General David Hurley has referred the Australian War Memorial Project to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report Interested persons and organisations can make submissions by Wednesday, 17 June 2020.
Museum at Home keeps people connected to Memorial | Museum At Home has been launched by the Australian War Memorial. It brings the Memorial to people wherever they may be, with an extensive range of online and digital resources including podcast series, documentaries, 360-degree digital experiences and several online exhibitions.
It’s been knocked down, but Boer war memorial stands test of time | Queanbeyan’s Boer War Memorial has been knocked down, but thanks to a group of dedicated members from the Queanbeyan RSL Subbranch, it has been stood up again. Erected in 1903 at the intersection of Crawford and Monaro streets it has been relocated to what is hoped will be its final resting place in the memorial rose garden at Moore Park, adjacent the Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre.
Archive & Gallery news
The Tjanpi Desert Weavers are working on a major commission for the National Gallery of Australia | Kelli Cole, a curator at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) writes about the Tjanpi Desert Weavers who are working on a commission for the Know my Name project, an initiative of the NGA celebrating the significant contributions of Australian women artists.
NFSA hosts online screening of Storm Boy | The National Film and Sound Archive are presenting a free online screening of Storm Boy. The film will be introduced by NFSA Curator Elena Guest, who will discuss the restoration process involved in preserving classic films, and why Storm Boy continues to have an impact on Australian culture. Showing at 6.00pm, Friday 15 May.
Other history news
Is history our post Pandemic guide | Professor of History at the Australian National University, Frank Bongiorno writes about what previous crises tell us about the chance that the COVID-19 health crisis will lead to a more progressive reform agenda.
Tall order leaves lasting legacy | Matthews Higgins writes about the over 30 mountain arboreta that were developed in the 40 years from 1928-1968. Sadly, nearly all of these were lost in the 2003 bushfires with Bendora the sole survivor now a special place to visit in Canberra’s mountain hinterland.
Acknowledgement: Studio portrait of Major General J. G. Legge, Commandant, Royal Military College, Duntroon from 1920 to 1922 and farmer of early Canberra. Image is from the Australian War Memorial see details here.
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