Tag Archives: ANZAC.

DOUGLAS NEWTON. The forgotten and ignored German peace initiative of 1916.

Posted on 20 December 2016 by John Menadue

Forgotten Great War Centenaries This month, truly important Great War centenaries are passing by quite unnoticed in Australia. A hundred years ago, diplomatic events occurred of far greater significance than any battle in which Australians fought. And – if true … Continue reading →

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David Stephens. Malcolm Turnbull’s post-Anzac pitch to the Australian Defence Force

Posted on 2 March 2016 by John Menadue

Tony Abbott admired soldiers. He liked to be around them, to talk about the fortunes of war (“shit happens,” as he memorably muttered to troops in Afghanistan). He quoted Samuel Johnson about how men despise themselves if they have never … Continue reading →

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John Menadue. The Frontier Wars.

Posted on 24 January 2016 by John Menadue

The following extract ‘The Frontier War’ was part of an address that I gave in September 2013 for the launch of the Catholic Social Justice Statement. It was carried on this blog at the time. It was one of many … Continue reading →

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John Menadue. Commercialisation and the Casualness of Going to War

Posted on 12 January 2016 by John Menadue

Repost from 23/04/2015. If we feel overwhelmed by the crass commercialism of Gallipoli and Anzac, take a deep breath because there are three years to go. Target has sponsored ‘Camp Gallipoli’, Woolworths has asked us to ‘Keep Fresh in our … Continue reading →

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Peter Day. Rather Be Dancing With Me Rosie.

Posted on 25 April 2015 by John Menadue

My grandad, he represented Australia; wore a green helmet, too. Walked out and faced the music: ducked a lead ball, not a leather one, mind you. Not much of a dressing shed in which to relax and prepare; A stinking-bloody-trench, … Continue reading →

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David Stephens.  Anzackery in the time of Anzac

Posted on 16 March 2015 by John Menadue

Anniversaries sharpen sensations and heighten moods. Christmas brings on good feelings, New Year provokes resolutions, siblings’ faults are set aside on their birthdays. Centenaries accentuate this quite normal process. The centenary of Anzac has brought on a welter of commemoration, … Continue reading →

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Hugh White on Australians and War from Honest History.

Posted on 23 October 2014 by John Menadue

In my blog of 20 October ‘It is becoming much easier to go to war’ I highlighted the reasons and the background  to developments since the Vietnam War that are making it much more likely that we will commit ourselves … Continue reading →

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Graham Freudenberg on ‘The Making of Australia – A Concise History’ by Robert Murray

Posted on 26 March 2014 by John Menadue

When I was a teenage Tory in Brisbane in the early Fifties, Bob Murray, a bright young spark from the Melbourne Argus was the most persuasive of my newspaper contemporaries who led me gently towards the light.  In Sydney a … Continue reading →

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