'Tell me that to my face': War memorial director hits back at activists claiming Anzac Day glorifies war

Sky News AU

25-04-2025

The director of Australia's national war memorial has hit back at suggestions that honouring Anzac troops glorifies war, saying that his critics should 'tell me that to my face'.
Anzac Day criticism has come from pro-Palestine lobby group Teachers and School Staff for Palestine Victoria, which sent thousands of teachers around the country a teaching resource called 'Challenging Anzac Day', The Age reported.
The resource encouraged teachers to tell students about Australian troops' role in the Middle East after World War I, including in the killing of up to 137 civilians in 1918 in what was then Palestine.
'The brutal massacre committed by the ANZACs at Sarafand al-'Amar chillingly portended the Nakba, the catastrophic displacement of Palestinians in 1947-1949,' the resource says.
Australian War Memorial director Matt Anderson spoke to Sky News on Friday, where he responded to criticism directed towards him suggesting the memorial and the national day of remembrance glorified war.
He told Sky News Chief News Anchor Kieran Gilbert that his critics should 'play the tape' of Major Angela Uphill speaking at the memorial in Canberra on Friday morning.
Major Uphill's husband served in the Australian Defence Force for 20 years, and on Friday she described the devastation of losing her husband to suicide.
'That's the story she told today, and that's the causes, the conduct and the consequences of war. It's not pretty,' Mr Anderson said.
'(Major Uphill) is a remarkable officer, she's a remarkable leader, she's a remarkable mum, and she told the truth today that some people bring the war home with them, and when they do, there's consequences to it.
I just think those who say we glorify war, visit the war memorial, attend a last post ceremony, and tell me that to my face.'
Mr Anderson was also asked about the ongoing importance of teaching children and students "the meaning of Anzac".
"My job, my mission is to lead the nation's both commemoration and understanding of the Australian experience of war," he said.
The Age reported that the Education Department did not endorse the resource circulated by the pro-Palestine lobby group.
'Our curriculum includes Anzac Day resources that align with guidance from the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and the Australian War Memorial in Canberra," a spokesperson said.