Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

As the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I and the Gallipoli landings approach, many people are seeking to explore the stories of family members involved in the conflict. This is why we've created an online guide to researching ANZACs . This guide takes you through some of the basic steps and resources that you can use to research the life and career of a member of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in WWI. In May, we'll also be having an introductory presentation that showcases how to use selected online resources to begin researching your own family's WWI history. At Sam Merrifield Library on Monday 5th May, 7pm. For more, see our events page . Book online: mooneevalleylibraries.eventbrite.com.au or call 8325 1950. Julia

The Australian Military have had a long history of involvement in the Middle East. Dr Mark Johnston’s new book, Anzacs in the Middle East , looks at the relationships between Australians of the second AIF and their allies and how they related to local populations of Greece,Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine during the Second World War. He uses diaries, interviews and other first-hand accounts to give a valuable perspective of Australians abroad in adverse conditions and discusses the image of the “larrikin” Australian.  Sam Merrifield Library Wednesday 24 April, 7pm Free, but bookings necessary. Call 8325 1950.

  In the lead up to Anzac Day on the 25th April, Find my Past has created the Anzac Memory Bank to allow people to share personal and family stories about Australia and New Zealand involvement in wars and conflict around the world.  Information and articles from military experts will also be available. In addition Find my Past will provide free access to all its military records from Monday 22April to Friday 26th April.

November 11, Remembrance Day, is a time of reflection as we think about the end of World War I and the tragic loss of life from 1914 -1918. In November 1918 cities, towns and municipalities around Australia marked the end of this conflict  with celebrations and memorial services.  In Moonee Ponds, ANZACS were welcomed home by the Mayor and Councillors outside the Town Hall, and other services were held across the community. The Essendon Gazette has many articles detailing these events, and reading them conveys the emotions and feelings generated by loss and the  turmoil of war. The issue of conscription for example was still divisive even at the end of 1918. You can read original articles from The Essendon Gazette on microfilm in the Sam Merrifield Library or visit the Trove website and view digitised copies of this newspaper from 1914-1918.

, The Sam Merrifield Library will be hosting an author talk by Dr Marina Larsson. Shattered Anzacs: living with the scars of war tells the untold story of thousands of Australian families who welcomed home disabled soldiers after the First World War. In 2008 Marina Larsson received the Australian Historical Association's biennial Serle Award for the best postgraduate thesis in Australian History. To book for this free talk on Thursday April 23rd, at 7pm Call 8325 1950 To find out more about the significance of ANZAC Day to learn more about the customs and traditions that have developed since the 25th April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916, visit the Australian War Memorial Canberra website The Returned and Services League of Australia (Victorian Branch) holds a number of activities on ANZAC Day throughout the State of Victoria to commemorate the men and women who fought and risked their lives to protect Australia. Beverley Broadbent recalls how when at boarding school she a...