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PDF (Whole Thesis) - USQ ePrints - University of Southern ...

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people, is one <strong>of</strong> a distant observer, ignorant <strong>of</strong> the intricate socio-political context <strong>of</strong> WWI<br />

and the strong opposing viewpoints articulated in mainstream media, for example the<br />

controversy surrounding conscription and the very prominent campaign both for and against<br />

conscription.<br />

5.8.6 Discourses <strong>of</strong> commemoration.<br />

An indication <strong>of</strong> the move away from British heritages, can be seen in the change from many<br />

British based conflicts seen in the early Readers and commemorative days (for example,<br />

Empire Day) towards the sustained inclusion <strong>of</strong> Anzac Day as a commemoration <strong>of</strong> national<br />

importance. This was, however, a slow process, with many Readers in the 1930s not<br />

changing from their published content <strong>of</strong> 1913 and 1914. In this era, Anzac Day was<br />

positioned distinctly as part <strong>of</strong> the British Commonwealth, and less as a part <strong>of</strong> a definitive<br />

Australian-ness that it has since become (see, for example, Source 5.6). Interestingly, and<br />

indicative <strong>of</strong> the slow change in curriculum, there is no mention <strong>of</strong> either Anzac Day or<br />

Empire Day in “A Story <strong>of</strong> the Australian People” (Cramp, 1927). Anzac Day during this era<br />

seems more <strong>of</strong> a commemorative event, outside <strong>of</strong> academic school curriculum, because<br />

whilst Anzac Day commemorations are evident from 1916 onwards as an event that schools<br />

actively acknowledge, it is not included in History textbooks, even when WWI is the focus<br />

(see, for example, Cramp, 1927; Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a).<br />

The first school curriculum document located for this project that contains reference to World<br />

War I is the front and back cover <strong>of</strong> The School Paper, a regular student newsletter published<br />

by the Department <strong>of</strong> Public Instruction, and intended as a supplementary curriculum<br />

document. The April 25, 1916 edition contains particular significance as it demonstrates the<br />

very early uptake <strong>of</strong> Anzac Day as a point <strong>of</strong> commemoration both for the community in<br />

general and schools; being only one year after the landing <strong>of</strong> the Australian and New Zealand<br />

Army Corps at Gallipoli. The cover, a full colour image, rare for this era due to cost <strong>of</strong><br />

copying, can be viewed at Source 5.6. What follows is an analysis <strong>of</strong> this image, bringing<br />

together a number <strong>of</strong> different sub-discourses within a broader one <strong>of</strong> commemorating Anzac<br />

Day.<br />

175

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