AUSTRALIANS SHARE THEIR VISION TO COMMEMORATE 100 YEARS OF SERVICE

AUSTRALIANS SHARE THEIR VISION TO COMMEMORATE
100 YEARS OF SERVICE

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Warren Snowdon, said the public have
submitted their ideas to mark the Anzac Centenary in 2015, to recognise
a century of service since Federation.

Mr Snowdon said over the past few months more than 600 public
submissions and 1200 ideas detailing ways for Australia to mark this
important anniversary have been considered by the National Commission on
the Commemoration of the Anzac Centenary.

Mr Snowdon thanked the public for their contribution, and said
submissions were received from individuals, schools, community groups,
ex-service organisations and local and state governments across the
country.

"The Anzac Centenary in 2015 is an important milestone in the wartime
history of Australia, marking 100 years of Australian service since
Federation. There is a broad spectrum of ideas covering education,
theatre, music, art, poetry, memorials and memorabilia however,
overwhelmingly, Australians want to hear about the personal accounts,
both past and present, of our servicemen and women.

"Ideas have included local community activities, engaging with former
servicemen and women, revisiting the history of key battles and learning
the untold stories of Australian service.

"There is also a collective view that any opportunities where we can
learn from the experience of war in furthering our aims for peace are
very important," Mr Snowdon said.

The National Commission on the Commemoration of the Anzac Centenary held
its final meeting for the year in Melbourne today ahead of its report to
Government in early 2011.

The Commission was established on April 25 2010 to engage with the
community, listen to their ideas and suggestions about how our nation
can mark this significant milestone, and recommend a way forward to the
Government.

Commission members are former Prime Ministers the Right Hon Malcolm
Fraser PC, AC, CH and the Hon Bob Hawke AC, the National President of
the RSL RADM Ken Doolan AO (Retd), editorial cartoonist and journalist
Warren Brown, former ADF member and peacekeeper
MAJ Matina Jewell (Retd) and veteran advocate and nurse Kylie Russell.

For more information visit www.anzaccentenary.gov.au