This appendix summarises, by theme, a number of ideas that emerged from the public submissions. It also provides a log detailing names of all submitters (where not deemed confidential). Summaries and full submission logs can be accessed at the Anzac Centenary website.7
Century of service
The Century of service theme encouraged projects and activities that acknowledge the experience of servicemen and women and that commemorate their lasting legacy. This theme was intrinsic to many of the ideas submitted. To avoid duplication, these ideas have been categorised against one or more of the other five themes.
The Community engagement theme encouraged projects and activities that acknowledge and inform the local community about Australia’s military legacy, and engage or benefit the community now and in the future. Ideas forwarded under this theme also tied into the Commemorative services theme. Ideas included the following:
Ensure that all areas of Australia are involved in the centenary program and that activities are not limited to larger cities. Provide opportunities for, and make resources available to, smaller communities, so that they may create their own centenary programs.
Produce mementos such as coins and stamps for schoolchildren and the general public.
Document collections of military objects and items in smaller regional towns and encourage the sharing of them with communities.
Create a centenary medal for servicemen and women.
Involve the direct and closely related descendants of the original members of the Anzac forces in commemorative services in Australia and overseas.
Develop visual art exhibitions and competitions involving the creation and/or exhibition of art exploring war, peace and the impact of war on Australia and Australians. Some of them may tour the country.
Provide assistance to Returned & Services Leagues (RSLs) and community associations to better engage or re engage members of their local communities in activities for the centenary.
Create theatre and dance productions exploring the First World War, other conflicts and war in general.
Create song/music compilations exploring the First World War, other conflicts and war in general.
Hold competitions in various types of sports between Australia, New Zealand, Turkey and other nations involved in campaigns in which Australians have served.
Stage re-enactments of other major events in our military history, including the Gallipoli landings (in situ and in suitable places in Australia) and Coo ee–style marches or walks throughout the country.8
Infrastructure and capital works
The Infrastructure and capital works theme encouraged ideas for the development of infrastructure and capital works programs that benefit the Australian people now and into the future. Ideas forwarded under this theme tied into the Community engagement theme. Ideas included the following:
Develop memorial walks, interpretive panels/centres and kiosks.
Establish new honour rolls in schools to recognise service personnel from the First World War to the present day.
Develop an ‘Anzac Way’, as is already underway in Western Australia. This would include interpretive panels, supporting maps, guides etc.
Rename state and national roads and infrastructure after people and events from our military past. For example, rename the Great Ocean Road, the Great Anzac Road. Name streets in new suburbs after servicemen and women from the area, as is currently happening in Victoria.
Erect Peacekeeping and Boer War memorials.
Establish living memorials by planting forests of trees — one tree for each serviceman or woman who has served or died as a result of wars or other conflicts. This could be done as one large forest that continues to grow over time for our future generations, or as a number of smaller forests spread across various locations in Australia. It could be a national project in communities all over Australia.
Replant or rejuvenate the struggling and often dying avenues of honour in rural and regional towns.
Education, public awareness and community access
The Education, public awareness and community access theme encouraged ideas for the development of programs, projects and activities that build on those that currently exist, or create new opportunities for Australians of all ages to examine, interpret and better understand the Australian experience of war. Ideas included the following:
Develop school-based programs that encourage examination of Australia’s military history.
Introduce different aspects of Australia’s military history into the National History Curriculum, including peacekeeping and modern conflicts, as well as conflicts of the past.
Recognise servicemen and women who did not die in service. A number of submitters discussed how those who returned home from military campaigns did not receive the same recognition as those who were killed in action. Families feel that the centenary may be an appropriate occasion to acknowledge not only the sacrifice of those who died, but to better recognise the experiences of those who survived war, who often returned wounded physically, mentally and emotionally, and deserve recognition and support.
Produce educational television and film documentaries.
Produce publications that record a broad range of campaigns that Australians have been involved in.
Create research and academic scholarships (both in and outside Australia, with countries such as Turkey, France and Germany) that explore military history and the impact of war and of peace.
Develop accessible online databases that
record the location of medals awarded to Australian service personnel, both past and present
record the locations of all war memorials, cemeteries and cenotaphs across Australia and around the world where Australians have served
record the honour rolls across the country, especially in the many small communities where there are no remaining servicemen or women or active RSL branches.
