In the week leading up to ANZAC Day, Local Government Focus will be highlighting some of the events local governments are hosting to commemorate the ANZAC Centenary.
The Prospect Gallery will be hosting an exhibition titled ‘Prospect: A City At War’ showing a snapshot of the City during World War I.
Rather than focusing solely on the soldiers who went to war the exhibition is a study into the lives of Prospect people at home.
This exhibition follows their endlessly spirited initiatives to support, rally, strengthen and rebuild their community well beyond the war with fascinating initiatives ranging from the wisely practical to the inspiringly creative.
The travelling installation brings together a number of elements to commemorate and celebrate the industriously resourceful people of Prospect and the activities they undertook to honour and commemorate those Australians who did, and did not, return.
City of Prospect Mayor, David O’Loughlin welcomed the exhibition.
“City of Prospect’s ANZAC Day commemorations sit respectfully alongside all other local activities honouring the memories of those brave Australians who, 100 years ago, fought for our future and those who didn’t make it home.
“Through our local research, we also acknowledge the people who by staying behind, kept our families and community strong.
“This was achieved not only by what they did for each other, but also in the way they supported all service men and women on foreign shores.
“We will remember them.”
The historical display is the result of months of research undertaken by keen local historian, Bridget Jolly, who has methodically studied and curated her subject matter in conjunction with resources of City of Prospect’s Local History Collection.
This Local History Collection holds a significant number of Prospect records, memorabilia and accounts of local stories and is supported by an active and very well regarded Local History Group.
Their research and subsequent publications have contributed greatly to the body of knowledge on Prospect’s history.
However, they have noted a distinct gap in local records around WWI.
As such, their project group seeks to fill that gap with help from the public to come forward with any WWI wartime, military memorabilia, artifacts or local stories that may help to illuminate more about Prospect during WWI and provide further insight for the travelling exhibition.
‘Prospect: A City At War’ will be opened April 24 at the Prospect Gallery and forms part of a History Month exhibition.
