War Memorials in Australia
Australian Servicewomen's Memorial
Place:
Campbell, Australian Capital Territory, 2612
District:
Southern Tablelands
(ACT)
Orientation: Suburb of Canberra
Location: In sculpture garden of Australian War Memorial
Position: 35 16 80 S 149 08 85 E
Ref: 00018
__________________________
The memorial base is a polished grey granite slab with a flat surface on which is a square mosaic of granite stones which were gathered from all over Australia. The flat mosaic sculpture represents a carpet laid by women. The mosaic is bisected north to south by a rill or gutter, representing a river that divides the mosaic into the pre and post 1945 periods.
The insignia of the various divisions in which women have served, from World War II through to 1999 (when the Memorial was dedicated), are incised into the stone borders of the work. The lettering and insignia face inwards encouraging people to walk on the memorial. It is located under a grove of trees in the sculpture garden beside the Australian War Memorial's administration building.
In November 1997 Sydney sculptor, Anne Ferguson, won a
competition for her design of the Australian Servicewomen's Memorial. Other work
in Canberra by the artist is the marble finials for the staircase at Parliament
House. Ferguson has also worked with sculptor Peter Corlett to create a black
granite carving of the
Returned Services League Fountain in the surrounds of Parliament
House.1
Incised in south side of base
THIS MEMORIAL COMMEMORATES ALL WOMEN WHO SERVED, SUFFERED,
AND THOSE WHO DIED IN THE DEFENCE OF AUSTRALIA
The role of women in the defence forces expanded dramatically
during the Second World War, when nearly 70,000 volunteered and served with
great distinction. After the war, women continued to serve in the armed forces and
today they are fully integrated within the three forces,
where their roles diversified and expanded.
Plaque on concrete slab in front of memorial, south east corner
Anne Ferguson Australian Servicewomen's Memorial The Australian Servicewomen's Memorial, dedicated to all |
Incised in black granite slabs bordering
mosaic
Eastern border, from north east corner
| PRE-1945 Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service Women's Royal Australian Naval Service Australian Army Medical Corps Australian Army Nursing Service Australian Women's Army Service Voluntary Aid Detachments Australian Army Medical Women's Service Royal Australian Air Force Medical Service Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force Insignia of Royal Australian Navy Insignia of Australian Commonwealth Military Forces Insignia of Royal Australian Air Force
|
Western border, from south west corner
| POST-1945 Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service Women's Royal Australian Naval Service Royal Australian Navy Australian Army Nursing Service Royal Australian Army Nursing Service Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps Women's Royal Australian Army Corps Australian Army Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force Royal Australian Air Force Insignia of Royal Australian Navy |
Information current to July 2000
Sources: 1National Foundation
for Australian Women, Australian Servicewomen's Memorial
http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE0121b.htm on Australian Women's
Archive
Project website as at 25 April 2004