ashleigh powell / writer

Monday, May 7, 2012

Museum of Sydney (M.O.S) - Home Front - Wartime Sydney 1939-45

"World War II changed Sydney and its people forever. For most Sydneysiders life during the war was a strange combination of fear, excitement, opportunity, love and grief".

On September 3, 1939 the then Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced to the nation that Britain, and therefore Australia were at War with Germany.

Yesterday, I visited the Home Front 1939-1945 War exhibition held at the Museum of Sydney. It was a beautiful Sunday, the sun was shinning and the weather certainly had cooled down as I could feel a slight winter chill on my face.

The exhibition was very good, it gave a wonderful summary of the events of World War II, and in particular how the War affected Australian’s and the impact it had on people living in Sydney. Over the past year I have dwelled into as many history books as I can, and watched a number of documentaries to learn all about World War II. Yet, after seeing the exhibition I couldn’t help to think how much I wish it was on when I first started to write this book. Instead of what took me months to learn, I could have learnt it all in just a few hours ! Was a bit frustrating, but not much I can do but look at the bright side... that all the history and dates have definitely being cemented in my mind now.

The most interesting parts of the exhibition for me was to see all the propaganda posters as I haven't seen any Australian ones before (the internet unfortunately doesn’t hold everything) and, too also learn more about the enormous role women played in the War. In no way am I disrespecting any soldier that fought. However, I think the tremendous amount of work, courage, and strength women did and performed during the War has never being recognised as much as the men who fought. Most of the documentaries and Hollywood movies are all about the men fighting and battling in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, or the Pacific. Yet, I don’t think or know of any films that have solely being based on or around women in the War and, gone into the depths of the roles they played. Perhaps I should write this to Steven Speilberg !

It was also fascinating to see such a different landscape in Sydney, which during the War had observation posts and artillery guns manned all along the coast. It was certainly hard to imagine with what Sydney is today, as when your looking at all the photographs from that period it’s like your watching a movie, it dosn't seem real. Yet our ancestors, lived through it, and was apart of it...

Just a few pictures x

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Sydney ANZAC Parade

ANZAC Day is one of the most important national occasions in Australia. We celebrate and remember our ancestors who fought and died for our country. Without their sacrifice’s each and every one of us would not have the lives we have today.

After watching sunrise it was time for the Sydney ANZAC Parade. Last year, my grandfather became ill on the morning of ANZAC Day and was extremely disappointed as it was the first ANZAC Parade he had ever missed. This year the weather was perfect and nothing was stopping him.

I got the absolute honour to be with my grandfather in the Parade. This year unfortunately at age 88 he couldn’t walk the distance, so he got first class inside a jeep and I got a ride in the back.

It was a lovely experience, I am very fortunate that my grandfather is still alive today and that I had the opportunity to do it with him. But the most delightful and exciting part of being in the parade was the amount of people that lined George Street and Martin Place to celebrate and thank the veteran soldiers. So to whomever that was there thank you, because it meant the world to my grandfather to see all of you and the Australian flags waving.

Hope you all had a great ANZAC Day however you celebrated. These beautiful photographs were taken by Jessica Lindsay, and a couple shaky ones from me on the back.

L-R: My father (Gordon Powell), me, my grandfather Jack and my uncle John Prosser.

ANZAC Day - Sunrise at Bondi

After the dawn service, I scooted home and watched the sunrise from Bondi.

It was beautiful...

and I wasn't the only one watching ...

the sunrise....

ANZAC Dawn Service

To my grandfather, Edward Powell who fought on the frontline in WWII, and his beautiful wife, my grandmother Enid Powell, who diligently worked everyday during the war making parachutes for the soldiers. You both have now passed, but will never be forgotten and always remembered for the kindness and guidance you both forever displayed.

And, to my other grandfather John Prosser, you too fought on the frontline and thank you for being so strong and healthy every single day, as well as sharing the most traumatic time of your life. My nan, Rita Brown, you too are just as healthy, and thank you for also working everyday making batteries for the army supplies during the war.

This morning I went to the ANZAC dawn service, which commenced at 4:00am at The Cenotaph - Martin Place, Sydney.

My alarm went off at 3:00 am, most think this is an absolutely crazy time to be waking up, which I completely agree. As I was scooting into town at 3:30am, my body was freezing and asking what the hell I was doing at this early hour in the morning.

Well, I had never being to a dawn service before, and to be honest I never really thought about going to one until I started writing this book on my grandfather. As I was walking past St Mary’s cathedral, I wondered how many people would actually be here for the service. To my surprise, when I arrived at the top of Martin Place, I could see hundreds of people surrounding The Cenotaph.

When the official proceedings commenced at 4:30am I turned around, and Martin Place was absolutely full with thousands of people. I smiled for they too were doing the same as I was, paying respect to those soldiers who fought and died for Australia.

The ceremony was beautiful and very touching. At precisely 5:00am the minutes silence began. All the microphones and television screens were turned off, and there was not one word, thousands of people were collectively silent in the dark with not one whisper.

‘At this hour upon the 25^th day of April in 1915, ANZAC became one of the immortal names in history. We who are gathered here think of those who went out to the battlefields of all wars, but did not return. We feel them still near us in spirit. We wish to be worthy of their great sacrifice. Let us therefore once more dedicate ourselves to the ideals for which they died. As the dawn is even now about to pierce the night so let their memory inspire us to work for the coming new light into the dark places of the world”.

I was little disappointed that at 25, with all my grandparents fighting and contributing in WWII, that I never did the dawn service before. However, I realise how important it is now, and that this tradition should be continued and passed on to future generations. So once a year out of 365 days, I will be waking up at 3:00am for one of them.