An evening of song, stories and poetry will be held on April 23 to mark the centenary of World War One.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Organised by the Lower Mountains Neighbourhood Centre, A Kitbag of Memories will feature acclaimed Mountains musicians Mara and Llew Kiek, Paul Cutlan, Peta Williams and singer Jarnie Birmingham.
Centre manager Peta Williams said they began working on the project last year, which is funded by the federal government's Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program. She expected a book of local stories from the war would be finalised in the next few months. A few of these stories have been woven into the show, which includes readings from Glenbrook poet Brian Bell, and well-known songs and originals from the Kieks. Some stories are about soldiers who went off to war and said very little on return. "There was an awful lot of mud," was about all one local soldier would share with his family, Ms Williams said.
The evening covers everything from going to war, being in the war, to coming home, and themes such as peer pressure to join up, what women were doing during the war, our Indigenous soldiers and what it was like to return home.
Anti-war songs were not accepted at the time, Ms Williams said, so Australians would parody the war through songs such as Oh what a lovely war.
And Indigenous men were forbidden to enlist, so many would claim they were of Arabian or Middle Eastern heritage. "It's about honouring the Anzacs, but also all soldiers," Ms Williams said. "It was the same tragedy on every side," Mrs Kiek added.
Her grandfather Albert Edward Ryan fought in the war, and was buried in the Somme, France. She took a cutting of the red remembrance rose which lies on his grave, and successfully brought it back into Australia, sharing with family. A rose bush grows in the couple's Faulconbridge garden. One of the songs in the show, Banks of the Somme, is an original Mrs Kiek wrote about her grandfather.
"The general population is aware how horrible the First World War was. It has affected every single person in the country," Mr Kiek said.
But the evening isn't just about tragedy, the music is also light and bright, featuring songs that were played to boost spirits and morale at the time.
Tickets for the April 23 show from 7pm to 9pm at Sharon Burridge Hall, Blaxland Community Centre, 33 Hope Street, Blaxland, cost $10, $5 concession, or $25 family.
Book online at www.lmnc.org.au, phone the centre on 4739 1164, or email admin@lmnc.org.au. Tickets must be collected and paid for by April 20.