Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:front:0:p290
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 891626–894433

to the crushed red brick paving, [had at the time] the native New Zealand plant Hebe 'Autumn Glory' growing in them (symbolising the Anzac connection).'  (https://www.nca.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-12/Anzac%20Parade_WalkingTour_Flyer%20online.pdf, accessed 4 August 2022)

The NCA podcast is regularly accessed from their website, with 432 hits in 2008-09, the year it was launched, but fewer in 2010-11.

The podcast highlights the importance of some of the memorials from the perspective of those with associations to this place.  Ron Metcalfe, with his long associations as a guide to Anzac Parade and as an ex-serviceman, thinking about the view and the links along the Land Axis, says,

    'The War Memorial and Anzac Parade and Parliament all are linked, in my opinion, as just Australia, what we felt was the right thing to do about the world and to honour people that died and to bring that history to the young… It's always a remembrance issue and it seems to me the whole linked with Parliament itself, it couldn't be more appropriate really, it's what Australia thinks is a good idea.'

Much of the podcast focuses on interpreting the symbolism of each memorial and of Anzac Parade itself.  As such the podcast is a valuable interpretive device.  For example,

    'The red gravel forecourt is a good place to take in the overall effect of the Memorial – the gravel itself suggestive of a parade ground.  Indeed, the same red gravel along the centre of Anzac Parade accommodates military parades and ceremonials on special occasions – such as Anzac Day... with the colour representing bloodshed in war.'

As noted elsewhere, the symbolism attached to the red gravel appears to have been a development after the design, rather than as part of the original design.

Looking at the Australian Army National Memorial, with its sculpture 'Every Mother's Son' depicting two infantrymen, World War 2 veteran, William Higgy OAM, explains the symbolism and significance the memorial has for him.

    'It has a rock-like formation which… is a reflection of the army's relationship to the land.  There is a reflecting pond, this is again symbolic of the journey over water that our troops, that our service people have taken and it's facing east.  So you have there the symbolism of the rising sun and the dawn of the new day and it has at its base the radiating army insignia.'

In this memorial, as in others, 'it is Australians rather than the Australian Army whose involvement is remembered' (NCA 2009, 'Anzac Parade Walking Tour Podcast', www.nationalcapital.gov.au/, accessed 2011, not accessible 4 August 2022).  The inclusion of 'people' is common across the set of memorials, but in some instances reflects subsequent additions, such as at the Royal Australian Air Force Memorial (originally