The Battle for Australia Commemoration National Council
The Battle for Australia Commemoration National Council, convened on 14 August 1998, is comprised of a coalition of the leaders of the major Australian Ex-Service Organisations, the Chairpersons of the State Committees, representatives of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the teaching profession and interested community bodies.
The National Council's roles, aided by the State Committees, are to:
- Enhance community knowledge and understanding of Australian and Allied actions in the war against Japan from 1941 to 1945; and
- Encourage the conduct of annual commemorative activities related to the 'Battle for Australia', to be programmed annually for the first Wednesday in September
The Aim
The National Council's Aim is to commemorate the resistance to and ultimate defeat of the Japanese offensive against Australia, its territories, its national interests and its Allies that began in December 1941 by:
- According national honour and commemoration to all those who took part in the many operations at sea, on land and in the air that collectively comprised the 'Battle for Australia';
- Educating Australian children to appreciate, honour and learn from the heroism, sacrifice and service of all those who fought between 1941 and 1945 to defend Australia, its territories and national interests from attack and ultimately to expel the Japanese from Australian territory and waters;
- Recognising that, on the Home front, the Federal Government took measures to prepare the civil population for assaults on the mainland;
- Building upon the goodwill that exists between the people of Australia and the peoples of Papua New Guinea and our Allies of that period, notably the United States, United Kingdom and the Netherlands, and our traditional partner New Zealand.
| Battle for Australia Commemoration National Council |
| Council Chairman | Major General J.C. Hartley AO Rtd |
| National Secretary | Wing Commander R.E. Usher MBE RAAF Rtd |
| Correspondence should be addressed to |
| Address: | The National Secretary
Battle for Australia Commemoration National Council
18 Norton Street
EVATT ACT 2617
Phone/Fax/Voice mail : (02) 6259 0865 |
| Email: | secretary@battleforaustralia.org.au |
| Member bodies of the National Council |
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The Naval Association of Australia
Returned Services League of Australia
Royal Australian Air Force Association
Australian Veterans & Defence Service Council
Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen and Women
Legacy National Co-ordinating Council
History Teachers Association of Australia
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Australian/PNG Friendship Association
The Australian War Memorial
Merchant Navy Associations
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| State Councils |
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| ACT |
Chairman ACT Committee
Colonel J. Jackson RFD Rtd
38 Bertel Crescent
CHAPMAN ACT 2611
Phone/Fax/Voice mail (02) 6288 3373
Email john.jackson@bigpond.com
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| NSW |
Chairman NSW Committee
Air Commodore S.D. Clarke DFC Rtd
11 Pamela Crescent
BOWEN MOUNTAIN NSW 2753
Phone (02) 2572 1957
Fax (02) 4572 2255
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| QLD |
Chairman QLD Committee
Major P. O’Keeffe Rtd
PO Box 495
EVERTON PARK QLD 4053
Phone Work (07) 3226 8000
Fax Work (07) 3226 8001
Phone Home (07) 5572 6631
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| VIC |
Chairman VIC Committee
Lieutenant Colonel T. Lynes RFD ED Rtd
Legion House
166 Albert Rd
SOUTH MELBOURNE VIC 3205
Phone Work (03) 9699 6366
Fax Work (03) 9699 3551
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