the anxieties of millions...
Martin Collins' mittens
Peace Works! was a community writing project which called for contributions to a national publication in solemn remembrance of past and present conflicts and to help build peace now and into the future. The theme was Yearning for Peace from both the battle front and home front perspectives during World War 1 (WW1) and the century since then.
The outcome was a book of over 260 pages and the works published on this website. The book Peace Works! Moving Beyond 1915 Remembrance was launched at The National Archives on 6 May 2017. Printed copies of the book have been provided to libraries and schools around the region. Presntations from the launch event and feedback on the book can be seen on our Launch page.
Further conversations and involvement are possible through the Peace Works! Facebook page.
Peace Works! conducted writing workshops to inspire contemporary artists and writers to compose creative responses to memorabilia and artefacts related to WW1. It focused upon community groups, schools, libraries and church-based programs in the ACT Region.
Contributions for both the book and website were gathered from individual members of the public, writers' groups and participants from workshops. This website provided information for beginners on how to become creative in a broad range of genres from art, craft, drama, family history, journalistic accounts, music, poetry and short stories. A list of sources was also provided and is still available for reference.
An electronic copy of Peace Works! Moving Beyond 1915 Remembrance can be dowloaded here. Web versions of the works included in the book and additional works that were not included in the published book are available on the Works page on this website.
Peace Works! was a voluntary project of writers in the ACT Region to foster community based activities to solemnly commemorate WW1 as a period in Australian history when great sacrifices were made to bring peace to the world. This culminated in the signing of The Armistice on 11 November 1918, a day, like ANZAC, which is indelibly inscribed in Australian history. It was a period when Australians from all creeds, ethnic backgrounds, genders and political identities, whether in the front line or on the home fronts, yearned for the return of peace at personal, social and international levels.
Peace Works! provided an alternative to dominant militaristic narratives about Australian experience and reactions to war. Submissions addressed diverse perspectives on this theme and, in so doing, supported current national and international efforts towards peace. Publication of the book and support for workshops was funded under the Australian Government’s Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program.