The following formal submission have been made public
Submitter: Christine VincentAnzac Hall and Glazed Link
I am writing, yet again, to express my deep concern and disappointment in the handling of this extension to the Australian War Memorial by the National Capital Authority.
In particular I want to add my voice to hundreds of others who are appalled by the transformation of the AWM from a place of deep reflection into some sort of theme park that glorifies weapons of war. The justification for the extension to house large vehicles and equipment is not justification at all. That could be done at a separate facility rather than at the AWM. I am sure some veterans will be disturbed by confronting these weapons that have caused such injury to many on both sides of war.
I a pleased to copy the following comments from another source as it could not be better put:
A SHOWCASE OF ARMS for ARMS TRADERS
The purpose of a War Memorial is to honour the memory of those who died and to serve as a place of reflection on war itself.
It should not be a place to showcase instruments of death or to have the facilities to house aeroplanes, helicopters, armoured vehicles and other such equipment inside galleries. It is disturbing that weapons companies such as Lockheed Martin, Thales, BAE Systems, Boeing and Leidos are listed among the War Memorials’ donors, and that the amounts they have donated are concealed. The involvement of these arms traders underlines the highly questionable nature of the excessive re-development. The influence of arms dealers the world over supports the continuation and increase of violent conflict. The association of these companies with the Australian War Memorial takes from the concept of commemoration and adds to the glorification of war and its instruments.
_______________
I am aware that nothing will change through these NCA "Consultations" but I don't want the NCA to be able to say that nobody cared. We do.
In particular I want to add my voice to hundreds of others who are appalled by the transformation of the AWM from a place of deep reflection into some sort of theme park that glorifies weapons of war. The justification for the extension to house large vehicles and equipment is not justification at all. That could be done at a separate facility rather than at the AWM. I am sure some veterans will be disturbed by confronting these weapons that have caused such injury to many on both sides of war.
I a pleased to copy the following comments from another source as it could not be better put:
A SHOWCASE OF ARMS for ARMS TRADERS
The purpose of a War Memorial is to honour the memory of those who died and to serve as a place of reflection on war itself.
It should not be a place to showcase instruments of death or to have the facilities to house aeroplanes, helicopters, armoured vehicles and other such equipment inside galleries. It is disturbing that weapons companies such as Lockheed Martin, Thales, BAE Systems, Boeing and Leidos are listed among the War Memorials’ donors, and that the amounts they have donated are concealed. The involvement of these arms traders underlines the highly questionable nature of the excessive re-development. The influence of arms dealers the world over supports the continuation and increase of violent conflict. The association of these companies with the Australian War Memorial takes from the concept of commemoration and adds to the glorification of war and its instruments.
_______________
I am aware that nothing will change through these NCA "Consultations" but I don't want the NCA to be able to say that nobody cared. We do.