Latest news with #ChallengingAnzacDay
Sky News AU
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Tell me that to my face': War memorial director hits back at activists claiming Anzac Day glorifies war
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.
The Age
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Pro-Palestine group sends teachers classroom guide challenging ‘Anzac mythology'
Teachers are being urged to draw attention to Australian soldiers' violence in the Middle East ahead of Anzac Day by a pro-Palestine activist group 'frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war'. Teachers and School Staff for Palestine Victoria has developed and distributed a new teaching resource – called 'Challenging Anzac Day' – to thousands of teachers nationwide, encouraging them to share with students details of Australian troops' role in the Middle East during the First World War. The lesson guide urges teachers to tell children that members of an Australian Light Horse brigade raided and patrolled hundreds of villages, killing up to 137 civilians at Sarafand al-'Amar – also known as Surafend – 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. Loading The Surafend incident, as it became known, was examined in recent years as part of the Australian Defence Force's Brereton report, which found there was a reluctance among military command at the time to hold Australian forces to account for breaching prohibitions against killing civilians. The pro-Palestine group's resource also encourages teachers to tell students that Australian troops burned a village of 170 dwellings south of Cairo in 1919 and 'arrested and flogged up to 250 seditious agitators'. A spokesperson for the group, teacher Ohad Kozminsky, said the publication's goal was to 'challenge the dominant and irresponsible Anzac mythology'. 'We are frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war and close off critical discussion of Australia's role in violence and imperialism. Our students deserve better,' he said.
Sydney Morning Herald
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Pro-Palestine educators send teachers new classroom resource challenging ‘Anzac mythology'
Teachers are being urged to draw attention to Australian soldiers' violence in the Middle East ahead of Anzac Day by a pro-Palestine educators' group 'frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war'. Teachers and School Staff for Palestine Victoria have developed and distributed a new teaching resource – called 'Challenging Anzac Day' – to thousands of teachers nationwide, encouraging them to share with students details of Australian troops' role in the Middle East during the First World War. The lesson guide urges teachers to tell children that members of an Australian Light Horse brigade raided and patrolled hundreds of villages, killing up to 137 civilians at Sarafand al-'Amar – also known as Surafend – 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. The Surafend incident, as it became known, was examined in recent years as part of the Australian Defence Force's Brereton report, which found there was a reluctance among military command at the time to hold Australian forces to account for breaching prohibitions against killing civilians. The pro-Palestine group's resource also encourages teachers to tell students that Australian troops burned a village of 170 dwellings south of Cairo in 1919, and 'arrested and flogged up to 250 seditious agitators'. A spokesperson for the group, teacher Ohad Kozminsky, said the publication's goal was to 'challenge the dominant and irresponsible Anzac mythology'. 'We are frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war and close off critical discussion of Australia's role in violence and imperialism. Our students deserve better,' he said. The Education Department said it did not endorse the group's publication.
The Age
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Pro-Palestine educators send teachers new classroom resource challenging ‘Anzac mythology'
Teachers are being urged to draw attention to Australian soldiers' violence in the Middle East ahead of Anzac Day by a pro-Palestine educators' group 'frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war'. Teachers and School Staff for Palestine Victoria have developed and distributed a new teaching resource – called 'Challenging Anzac Day' – to thousands of teachers nationwide, encouraging them to share with students details of Australian troops' role in the Middle East during the First World War. The lesson guide urges teachers to tell children that members of an Australian Light Horse brigade raided and patrolled hundreds of villages, killing up to 137 civilians at Sarafand al-'Amar – also known as Surafend – 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. The Surafend incident, as it became known, was examined by the Australian Defence Force in recent years as part of the Brereton report and found there was a reluctance among military command at the time to hold Australian forces to account for breaching prohibitions against killing civilians. The pro-Palestine group's resource also encourages teachers to tell students that Australian troops burned a village of 170 dwellings south of Cairo in 1919, and 'arrested and flogged up to 250 seditious agitators'. A spokesperson for the group, teacher Ohad Kozminsky, said the publication's goal was to 'challenge the dominant and irresponsible Anzac mythology'. 'We are frustrated by resources that gloss over historical evidence to glorify war and close off critical discussion of Australia's role in violence and imperialism. Our students deserve better,' he said. The Education Department said it did not endorse the group's publication.
