Latest news with #AustralianWarMemorial
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- General
- Korea Herald
Australian museum removes display wrongly labeling Chinese clothing as ‘Korean traditional attire'
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia, has removed a display that mistakenly labeled Chinese-style clothing as 'Korean traditional attire' following complaints from the Korean community in Australia. Seo Kyung-duk, a professor of liberal arts at Sungshin Women's University and a prominent advocate for promoting Korean culture abroad, shared this news of the display's removal on his Instagram on Thursday. "I heard about this from a lot of Koreans in Australia. It's such a great outcome," Seo wrote. He explained that after concerns were raised, the museum acknowledged the mistake and corrected the label to indicate that the clothing was Chinese-style. The final removal of the display, he said, was the result of collective action by the Korean community in Canberra. Seo also underscored the significance of the display's removal. 'Even if the label is corrected, placing Chinese-style clothing in front of the Korean flag is bound to cause misunderstandings among foreign visitors,' he said. 'Given that China has recently been making false claims that hanbok originated from its own culture, this decision was very much welcomed.'
ABC News
5 days ago
- General
- ABC News
The ethics of commemorating the dead of the Third Reich
From an Australian perspective the commemoration of war has long been wrapped up with our national identity. Both 20th C world wars have loomed large for many Australians, and we continue to commemorate our war dead - note the Federal Government has just dropped over half a billion taxpayer dollars on a refurb of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Everyone deserves a proper and decent burial. Even those who have lived a life of crime or scandal can surely expect some dignity in death. But what if the deceased is a war criminal -- specifically a Nazi? In Germany, an organisation established after World War 1 to help locate and re-bury the remains of some of the millions who died, has found itself in an ethical dilemma. A fascinating story called Unburying the Remains of the Third Reich by Nicholas Casey , a journalist and staff writer at The New York Times based in Madrid.
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Australian War Memorial to further change display commemorating Ben Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross medal
The Australian War Memorial has confirmed it will make changes to its display commemorating Ben Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross medal, in light of last week's Federal Court ruling. The full Federal Court in Sydney dismissed the Australian special forces veteran's appeal against his long-running defamation case against Nine Newspapers on Friday. Mr Roberts-Smith had tried to sue three newspapers over a series of articles published in 2018 detailing allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan, bullying, and domestic violence against a woman in Canberra. In 2023, a Federal Court judge in Sydney found Mr Roberts-Smith complicit in war crimes on the balance of probabilities. The justices who dismissed his appeal last week ordered him to pay costs, which were estimated to have cost more than $25 million. Following the dismissal, Mr Roberts-Smith said he would "immediately" seek a challenge to the decision in the High Court, reiterating his ongoing denial of what he described as "egregious, spiteful allegations". The Australian War Memorial added information to a plaque commemorating Mr Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross medal late in 2023 to reflect the Federal Court's findings earlier that year. The revised text panel, which remains on display at the war memorial, reads in part: "In June 2023 a Federal Court judge determined that there was "substantial truth" to the allegations that Roberts-Smith had been involved and complicit in unlawful killings in Afghanistan. "Roberts-Smith has appealed this decision. "Roberts-Smith has not been charged with any offence under criminal law." In a statement to the ABC, Australian War Memorial chairman Kim Beazley confirmed the display would be altered again, but could not provide any further detail about how or when. "They will obviously reflect the change in circumstances that result from a decision and the fact that other decisions are being made or are yet to be made." An Australian War Memorial spokesperson said the collection of items relating to Mr Roberts-Smith remained in the memorial's galleries, "displayed with context of the case". The Australian War Memorial has also removed two portraits of Mr Roberts-Smith from display as part of its $500 million development, which is expected to be completed in 2028. The pieces are among a collection of more than 300 items that have been taken off display as part of planned gallery works. "The memorial will display thousands of new objects in an expanded Peacekeeping and Middle East galleries in the new Anzac Hall," the AWM said in 2023. It's unclear whether the portraits of Mr Roberts-Smith will feature in the new exhibition space when it opens.
The Age
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
War Memorial to update Roberts-Smith panels but display will remain
The Australian War Memorial will update the text accompanying its displays about Ben Roberts-Smith after the former soldier lost his bid to overturn a landmark decision that found he committed war crimes in Afghanistan. But a sensitive debate over how the institution acknowledges the behaviour of some Australian special forces soldiers in Afghanistan will continue, with Roberts-Smith seeking to challenge Friday's judgment – which upheld the findings of the original defamation trial – in the High Court. The Full Court of the Federal Court unanimously dismissed Roberts-Smith's appeal on Friday, saying there was sufficient evidence to support findings that the decorated soldier was complicit in the murder of four unarmed prisoners while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. The allegations were first reported by this masthead. Australian War Memorial chair Kim Beazley said the organisation was still discussing its approach to displays featuring Roberts-Smith. 'But wording will be altered to reflect the decision,' he said on Sunday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not weigh in when asked whether the Australian War Memorial should remove references to Roberts-Smith given the court outcome. 'I have no comments on those matters. I know there's been legal matters taking place between various media organisations. I haven't commented before and I won't comment after,' he said on Sunday. Roberts-Smith's uniform is displayed at the entrance of the Hall of Valour in the upgraded Australian War Memorial, which is still undergoing renovations and set to fully reopen in 2028. The text panel next to it introduces Roberts-Smith as a two-metre tall 'imposing figure on the battlefield' who was deployed to Afghanistan six times. It describes why he was awarded the Victoria Cross and says he is 'Australia's most highly decorated combat soldier from the conflict'.
Sydney Morning Herald
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
War Memorial to update Roberts-Smith panels but display will remain
The Australian War Memorial will update the text accompanying its displays about Ben Roberts-Smith after the former soldier lost his bid to overturn a landmark decision that found he committed war crimes in Afghanistan. But a sensitive debate over how the institution acknowledges the behaviour of some Australian special forces soldiers in Afghanistan will continue, with Roberts-Smith seeking to challenge Friday's judgment – which upheld the findings of the original defamation trial – in the High Court. The Full Court of the Federal Court unanimously dismissed Roberts-Smith's appeal on Friday, saying there was sufficient evidence to support findings that the decorated soldier was complicit in the murder of four unarmed prisoners while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. The allegations were first reported by this masthead. Australian War Memorial chair Kim Beazley said the organisation was still discussing its approach to displays featuring Roberts-Smith. 'But wording will be altered to reflect the decision,' he said on Sunday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not weigh in when asked whether the Australian War Memorial should remove references to Roberts-Smith given the court outcome. 'I have no comments on those matters. I know there's been legal matters taking place between various media organisations. I haven't commented before and I won't comment after,' he said on Sunday. Roberts-Smith's uniform is displayed at the entrance of the Hall of Valour in the upgraded Australian War Memorial, which is still undergoing renovations and set to fully reopen in 2028. The text panel next to it introduces Roberts-Smith as a two-metre tall 'imposing figure on the battlefield' who was deployed to Afghanistan six times. It describes why he was awarded the Victoria Cross and says he is 'Australia's most highly decorated combat soldier from the conflict'.
