AUSTRALIA TO COMMEMORATE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF END OF WORLD WAR II
Schools, community and ex-service organisations in the Riverina and Central West will this week start to receive a range of resources to help commemorate and honour the service and sacrifice of those who served in the Second World War, 75 years on from the war’s end.
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is encouraging everyone to be actively involved in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in any way they can on 15 August 2020, also known as Victory in the Pacific Day.
“The Riverina and Central West has a proud tradition of honouring our World War II veterans,” Mr McCormack said.
“We were all disappointed ANZAC Day services were cancelled this year, but we used our imaginations to pay tribute to our ex-servicemen and women, including with driveway dawn vigils.
“Hopefully, we can attend commemorative services in our towns where possible to mark the 75th anniversary, but if not then perhaps pause for a minute’s silence at some time during the day and reflect on the sacrifices of those who protected the freedoms we enjoy today.
“More than 39,000 Australians died during World War II and around 30,000 were taken prisoner, which was an enormous price to pay. And it came less than 30 years after World War I claimed more than 60,000 Australian lives, with another 156,000 either wounded, gassed or taken prisoner.”
Mr McCormack said the educational package contained a wide range of resources to help schools, community and ex-service organisations remember the Second World War and the profound impact it had on Australia.
The mail-out contains resources such as posters, Wartime Snapshot No.28, educational resources to support teachers such as Shifting Tides: Australia and the Pacific in the Second World War, History in Focus information cards and the video series Stories of Service: The Second World War.
Mr McCormack encouraged those who receive the packs to use these resources, and display the poster in a prominent location to commemorate this historical milestone and all those who served.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said these engaging resources would help Australians across the country commemorate the service and sacrifice of Second World War veterans, including around 12,000 veterans still alive today.
“Almost one million Australians served in the Second World War against Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa, against Japan in south-east Asia and the Pacific, as well as on the home front,” Mr Chester said.
“The mail-out includes a range of engaging resources that will help to teach younger generations and help the broader Australian community to commemorate this important historical event, which brought an end to the almost six-year long campaign.”
For more information, contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Commemorations Officer on 1800 555 254 or by email education@dva.gov.au. For more educational resources and information on the Second World War visit the Anzac Portal (anzacportal.dva.gov.au).