THE Wimmera and the Great War exhibition officially opened at Horsham Regional Art Gallery on Thursday night.
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The exhibition features letters, telegrams, memorabilia and other historical artefacts from Wimmera families who had relatives involved in the First World War.
Member for Mallee Andrew Broad said he preferred to focus on remembrance rather than glorification.
He reflected on the enormity of the losses suffered at war.
“I wonder if we had the power of media how the world would react to 5500 at the Battle of Fromelles getting killed in 24 hours,” he said.
“How would we react? Would we see the futility of war? Would we call our leadership to stop or was there no way of stopping?
“One hundred years ago we sent young men and women across to the other side of the world. Was it adventure they sought? And was it adventure they found or was it a great human tragedy?”
Mr Broad said it was important to remember Wimmera servicemen who lost their lives during the war.
“Young men who were seeking adventure, who were seeking to service the greater good, went across to a war,” he said.
“It was a war that took away the innocence of the world in many ways and it is important that we remember their stories.
“An exhibition such as this is fantastic because it allows us to learn a little bit more.
“Rather than just reading a name, we’re learning a little bit more of the story.”
Horsham Regional Art Gallery director Adam Harding paid tribute to gallery curator Allison Eggleton and gallery staff for assembling the exhibition.
“This is an exhibition that samples our community’s engagement in the First World War,” he said.
He thanked the Horsham, Natimuk, Dimboola and Warracknabeal and District historical societies, the Horsham, Warracknabeal and Natimuk RSL branches and the 25 Wimmera families who loaned material to the gallery for the exhibition.
Horsham Mayor David Grimble spoke about then prime minister Joseph Cook’s speech in Horsham in 1914.
“He said ‘all of our resources in Australia are for the preservation and the security of the empire’,” he said.
Cr Grimble said the exhibition was an opportunity to commemorate the significance of the First World War and think about what it meant to the Wimmera.
The exhibition will be at the Horsham Regional Art Gallery, Jubilee Hall, Roberts Avenue, Horsham, until November 23.
