What’s on at the museum, August 29, 2015

In August 1914 Prime Minister Andrew Fisher's government pledged full Australian support for Britain's announcement of war with Germany – a move that was greeted with great enthusiasm and a certain amount of trepidation.

The histories and stories of soldiers at Gallipoli and the Western Front are well documented and studied; less widely known are the exploits of the Royal Australian Navy, a navy which served in all theatres of war from the waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans through to the Mediterranean and North seas.

This exhibition highlights the contribution of the Royal Australian Navy to the “war to end all wars” through personal stories, interactives, film and objects from the National Maritime Collection and some borrowed from the magnificent collections of London's Imperial War Museum and Canberra's Australian War Memorial.

Wagga has its own special link to one of the subjects in this exhibition.

Towering over the lawns in the Victory Memorial Gardens is the white “derrick” mast of the HMAS Sydney.

As the plaque says, about halfway up the mast can be seen a scar made by a shell which was incoming from the German Raider Emden.

Australian troops had their first victory against the Emden early on in WWI.

This FREE travelling exhibition from the Australian National Maritime Museum is on display at the Museum of the Riverina, Historic Council Chambers site, (corner of Baylis and Morrow streets) until Sunday, November 22. 

WHILE you are at the Museum’s Historic Council Chambers site this weekend you can also visit the exhibition 150 years of Dame Mary Gilmore:  Dreaming of newer note.

This exhibition pays tribute to Dame Mary Gilmore (August 16, 1865 to December 3, 1962).

Featuring recollections of both the everyday and the extraordinary from her book Old Days: Old Ways, many of these thought-provoking, moving memories are set in and around the Wagga Wagga district. 

This exhibition, curated by Maree Brassil will be on display at the Historic Council Chambers site until Sunday, November 22.

THIS year Wagga’s thinkers and doers will be transported into the heart of the Sydney Opera House to hear two globally-significant thinkers via live video link, and to participate in a facilitated discussion of the challenging ideas that are presented.

Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Wagga will be held at the Museum’s Historic Council Chambers site on Sunday, September 6 from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

The first talk of the day is The Right To Die by Dr Helen Joyce, chaired by AC Grayling, it will take place at 10.30am.

The Twilight Of Democracy by Tariq Ali is at noon.

The talks will be followed by light refreshments and a facilitated discussion about key ideas.

Please join us for this FREE event.

Bookings are essential, please contact FODIwagga.eventbrite.com.au or phone 69 269 655.

Historic Council Chambers site

Botanic Gardens site

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