Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:front:0:p292
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 897683–900367

a focus for grief and grieving;  and
     * Anzac Parade as a symbol of a sovereign state.

These themes are discussed below.

Anzac Parade as a symbolic space

Anzac Parade is imbued with an array of symbolic meanings, linked to concepts of democracy, service and remembrance.  As part of the expression of Australia as a nation, Anzac Parade is at the heart of and linked to significant national symbols.  Previous assessments have highlighted a number of aspects of the symbolism of the larger landscape and Anzac Parade.

For focus group participants, they regarded Anzac Parade as having national significance for Australians as part of our collective memory and way of understanding ourselves.  They saw it as the place where,

    '(there is) national recognition of their sacrifice... for our country and nation... as something important to hang on to

    ...as a focus for commemoration

    ...as a place where people can pay their respects to [others] who have sacrificed themselves for freedom and democracy... like going to a worship place.

    ...it's not a place for the glorification of war, it is not a religious place, it is a secular place... and yet it encompasses all those feelings.'

The idea that Anzac Parade helps Australians understand themselves, in the past, and helps people look to the future, was evocatively expressed,

    'it helps explain ourselves to ourselves – the story of Anzac is a long way away in some senses but it connects very strongly to today – Anzac Parade and the Australian War Memorial is the focus of something which is esoteric and very hard to grasp... the whole precinct grounds [people] in their search for understanding of what it means to them... in every state there is a great resurgence of interest in these heritage matters and about the national character and I think this that is what this precinct serves – a grounding and a focal point'  (Ian, Focus Group 2)

Asked about its symbolism for Canberra residents, focus group participants suggested that Canberra people feel pride in living in the national capital, as evidenced by their activism if key parts of the design are seen to be threatened or at risk, and that if any of the memorials were damaged there would be great concern.

Canberra people has a sense of pride that it's here – 'this is ours, it's      really lovely to have it in our backyard' – and a sense of ownership.  And with a relatively high proportion of the Canberra community connected to Defence, this may add to the recognition of the importance of Anzac Parade.  Canberra people like to impress their visitors with the 'wow' factor in looking down the axis from each end,

    'The vision