There's a War On! opens at Cowra

There's a War On! opening at Cowra Art Gallery

Michael Rolfe and Brian Langer

Vanda Cassim with curried eggs

Along with M&G NSW staff members Sarah-Jane Rennie and Andrew Brettell, on Friday 3^rd June, I traveled to Cowra to speak at the official opening of M&G’s There’s A War On exhibition.

With support from the NSW Heritage Office, There’s A War On focuses on telling stories about the home front during World War I and World War II. Its presentation has been designed to allow host venues to complement the touring component with local stories about contributions to the war effort.

Cowra of course had a very direct connection to hostilities as the location of the Prisoner of War Camp made famous by the breakout of Japanese prisoners in August 1944. The Camp also housed prisoners of other nationalities, in particular a contingent of Italian prisoners whose remarkable art work and handicraft feature prominently in the exhibition.

Director of the Gallery, Brian Langer, has assembled items that clearly define the relationship, beyond that of adversaries, which existed between local residents and the prisoners. A large crowd enjoyed the evening’s proceedings, which were made all the more pleasing; through the quality of catering provided by the Friends of Cowra Regional Gallery (I must get that stuffed curried egg recipe Brian)!

On the Saturday morning, Sarah Jane presented a talk on the development of the exhibition and in the afternoon she introduced those present to the related wiki, giving them the opportunity to contribute their own stories to the growing data base of war related narratives generated by the exhibition.


Michael Rolfe

Sarah-Jane Rennie presents There's A War On! to delegates from around NSW