On 11th April I went to a “community day of reflection packed with free music events, workshops and activities, talks, curator’s tours, and exclusive performances by Queensland Symphony Orchestra” in conjunction with exhibition “Distant Lines – Queensland Voices of First World War”. It is a free exhibition and runs from 4th April till 15th November so you still have time to visit. This year it is the 100th anniversary of landing at Gallipoli peninsula and many events is happening around. State Library of Queensland is organising a series of events to celebrate the ANZACs and this was first of them.

Q ANZAC 100: Memories for a New Generation is a five-year program of legacy initiatives commemorating 100 years of First World War and Anzac history. The program will include symposia, exhibitions, ‘white gloves’ experiences with WWI treasures, events and performances to foster new understanding and conversations about Queensland’s WWI experiences.

 War Front Experience

Distant Lines – War Front Experience

The “Distant Lines” exhibition consists of two main parts. At the first one – “War Front Experience” – we discover stories of 25 Queenslanders, which illustrate life at the war front. SLQ at their website explain:

Discover untold war front experiences through personal letters, diaries, belongings and digital stories against a towering backdrop of striking imagery. Distant Lines in SLQ Gallery highlights the notion of distance during the First World War — geographical, ideological, and emotional — along with how lines of communication connected loved ones around the globe during this tumultuous time.

Distances

During community day exhibition Curator Kathryn King talked about the exhibition in general and said that they are still learning new stories. She explained that on the cover photo of the exhibition (below) there is a small photo in a background (on the shelf) that was unnoticed until one of the soldier’s descendants contacted them and provided a copy of the photo, now it is a part of the exhibition. You can read the story here on SLQ’s blog.

Marks Family Papers, John Oxley Library, SLQ 27331-3016-0047

Later, Dr Robert Hogg shared with us an interesting story of Dancan Chapman who is believed to be the first Australian ashore at Gallipoli (link). Chapman wrote to his brother “To me was given the extreme honour of being actually the first man to put foot ashore on this peninsula, to lead a portion of the men up the hill in that now historic charge”.

Dr Robert Hogg shared with us an interesting story of Dancan Chapman

Home Front Experience

The second part of exhibition is called “Home Front Experience” and is located in Philip Bacon Heritage Gallery on the 4th floor.

Trace the early stages of the war from recruitment and conscription campaigning to the darker side of patriotism; racism, censorship and propaganda, and appreciate how women contributed as fundraisers, Red Cross volunteers, and medical professionals. Explore the years of uncertainty and separation, and the disenchantment and continuing hardship for those who made it back home.

On a day Professor  Martin Crotty and Assistant Exhibition Curator, Amy-Clare McCarthy walked us through this section and explained different aspects of war that influenced a life in Australia. They shared stories about anti-German propaganda, government loans and volunteers recruitment. Only Australia and South Africa have not introduced conscription during the First World War even though there were two referendums in Australia. More about referendums at Australian War Memorial website.

Professor Martin Crotty discussing Home Front during WWI

On the 4th floor there is also a Talbot Family Treasures Wall where are displayed photographs “that examine the origins and development of Anzac Day in Queensland.”

Talbot Family Treasures Wall

I’ll definitely go to this exhibition again as there are a lot of stories to read through and photos to see. There is also a 5 hours documentary screened.

To finish post one of the quotes, from letters sent to loved ones, we can read at the exhibition.

“This would be a beautiful place…”