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A look back on 2023 at the Sir John Monash Centre

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Posted on 15 December 2023

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2023 has been busy with visitors and events, from the Anzac Day Dawn Service to the European Heritage Days, and including the visit of the Wallabies team for the Rugby World Cup.

Anzac Day 2023

Over 1,700 visitors attended the 2023 Anzac Day Dawn Service at the foot of the Australian National Memorial. This moving service commemorates the service of Australian troops in all conflicts and peace operations and takes place just a few hundred metres from the site of the Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, which took place from 24 to 26 April 1918.

Registrations are open to attend the 2024 Anzac Day Dawn Service. Please click here for more information.

The 2023 Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial near Villers-Bretonneux.
The students of the collège des Bourgognes, dressed as Australian soldiers in their short film Destins Croisés.

The Sadlier Stokes Prize

The Sadlier Stokes Prize was awarded to three schools this year:

  • The Collège des Bourgognes for ‘Destins Croisés’, a short film comparing the fates of AIF soldiers to those of a present-day class of students.
  • The Lycée Alfred Kastler for Digger’s Den and News Bulletin 21 April 1917, a series of podcasts and a short film on Australia’s involvement in the war.
  • The Collège Léon Dautrement for ‘La Lettre’, an illustrated book about a young Australian retracing the history of his grandfather.

French schools wishing to take part in the 2024 Sadlier Stokes Prize have until 1 February 2024 to submit their projects. For more information, click here.

Visits from the Australian Remembrance Trail partners

As a key site of the Australian Remembrance Trail, the Sir John Monash Centre welcomed many of our partners for conferences and presentations on the sites of Australian remembrance. Many thanks to our partners from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Bullecourt 1917, Jean and Denise Letaille Museum, the Vignacourt 14-18 Interpretive Centre, the Plugstreet 14-18 Experience Centre and the Franco-Australian Museum in Villers-Bretonneux for their support and participation in these events.

Conference given by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Sir John Monash Centre last March.
The exhibition 'Australians of the Western Front' in Le Hamel

The travelling exhibition: Australians on the Western Front

Last April, the Sir John Monash Centre unveiled its new travelling exhibition, Australians on the Western Front. This twenty-panel exhibition tells the story of the Australians who fought in France and Belgium during the war, and presents the sites of the Australian Remembrance Trail.

This year, the exhibition was displayed at the Amiens Métropole Tourism Office and by the towns of Péronne and Le Hamel. From next year, visitors will be able to view it at the Val de Somme Tourism Office in Corbie from 19 March to 13 April 2024, and in Belgium at the Plugstreet 14-18 Experience Interpretive Centre from 19 April 2024.

The Sir John Monash Centre Café under new management

During the summer of 2023, the Sir John Monash Centre café underwent a change of management. Ever since, Jackie Bedford and her team have been serving delicious sandwiches, homemade cakes, warm meals, soup and tasty flat whites in a warm and friendly atmosphere. It’s the perfect way to round off a visit to the Centre.

Staff enjoying a meal at the SJMC café, next to its Christmas tree.
The Wallabies in the presence of the Australian Ambassador to France and the Director of the Sir John Monash Centre at the grave of Gunner William Tasker.

The Rugby World Cup and a visit from the Wallabies

The Rugby World Cup was held in France this year and many visitors from all over the world took the opportunity to visit the Centre and discover its exhibition entitled: In the Scrum, Rugby during the First World War. The exhibition was on display from 15 August to 5 November, and was opened by Her Excellency, Ambassador Gillian Bird, in the presence of the Wallabies team. During their visit, the Wallabies paid tribute to Gunner William ‘Twit’ Tasker, a former Wallaby who is buried in the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery.

Students exploring Australian history

We were delighted to welcome thousands of students from schools in France, Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries to the Sir John Monash Centre in 2023! During their visit, the students took part in guided tours of the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery and the Australian National Memorial, where almost 11,000 Australian soldiers who have no known grave are commemorated. They also took part in educational hands-on activities learning the story of Private Valentine Augustine Rochfort, who is buried in the cemetery.

A Visitor Services Officer welcomes a school group.

Other highlights of 2023:

Kamini speaking with a representative from the Pulteney Grammar School.
French presenter and comedian, Kamini, visited the Australian National Memorial and Sir John Monash Centre to meet the students of the Pulteney Grammar School from Adelaide for his television programme, ‘Les Gens des Hauts’. This programme was aired on the France 3 local television station on 11 November. ©France 3 HDF
The Gippsland Grammar Orchestra performing in the courtyard of the Sir John Monash Centre.
For Anzac Day, the Gippsland Grammar Orchestra from Sale, Victoria gave a series of concerts in the region, including one at the Sir John Monash Centre.
Spectators gathered in the courtyard of the Centre to listen to the bagpipe performance.
On 13 May, the Sir John Monash Centre celebrated the Long Night of Museums by inviting visitors to extend their visit to the Sir John Monash Centre until 8pm. The day ended with a performance by the Gleannancre Pipe Band in the courtyard of the Centre.
A Visitor Services Officer and visitors at the foot of the Australian National Memorial
On the weekend of 13 and 14 May, the Sir John Monash Centre organised guided tours of the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery as part of the ‘Printemps de Cimetières’ (Spring of Cemeteries) national event which provides an opportunity to share the stories of eternal resting places in France.
A child and her mother making a koala cuddly toy during one of the Centre's workshops.
During the summer, we invited families to attend workshops hosted by local artists to learn more about Australian culture and remembrance through arts and craft.
Cadel Evans' group of cyclists and the Director of the Sir John Monash Centre stand in front of the Australian National Memorial with an Australian flag.
Cadel Evans, the first Australian cyclist to win the Tour de France, and his fellow cyclists took time out from their journey along the roads and paths of the Somme to stop off at the Australian National Memorial and the Sir John Monash Centre.
Players from the Australian Defence Force Rugby Union team forming a circle in front of the Australian National Memorial.
The Australian Defence Force Rugby Union team visited the Sir John Monash Centre and Australian National Memorial to pay tribute to the Australian sacrifice during the First World War and visit the In the Scrum, Rugby during the First World War exhibition.
A staff member giving a guided tour in the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery
On 16 and 17 September, the European Heritage Days attracted a large number of visitors for tours of the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery where staff shared the stories of William ‘Twit’ Tasker and Neville Wallach, two former rugby players who are buried there.
The Amiens Brass Band playing in the courtyard of the Sir John Monash Centre.
For the European Heritage Days, the Centre also welcomed the Amiens Brass Band for a performance of iconic Australian tunes.
Lewis Moody and fellow cyclists with the Director of the Sir John Monash Centre at the entrance to the Australian National Memorial.
The Centre welcomed Lewis Moody, former captain of the England rugby union team, and fellow cyclists from his foundation. They stopped off on their charity tour of the Western Front Way, a trail connecting the sites of the First World War in France and Belgium.

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