Wednesday luncheon with Rotarian Steve Larkins - ANZAC Day Meeting

Guest Speaker: Rotarian Steve Larkins

 

ANZAC Battlefields in Europe

 

Steve Larkins is well known to members of the Club  both as an active member and for some of his other activities, particularly as founder of the Virtual War Memorial and sometime battlefield guide.  In 2018 a number of Rotarians (the Nobles, Neals and Procters) and former RCA member Sandra Turner and DG David Egan’s son Nic were part of a group that Steve guided around the Western Front and Normandy.

 

Some contemporary local historians are now claiming Australia has over-inflated its role in the Great War compared to countries such as France and Britain.  Further, some claim that Australia’s spending on commemoration of the Centenary of the Great War is out of all proportion to our part in the conflict.

 

As we approach ANZAC Day, Steve will remind us of why the European Wars of the 20th century have been so significant in Australia’s history.  Steve’s contention is simple.  History belongs to the communities that write it, not to academics who interpret it in order to sell books.   It’s not about European or world history.  It’s about Australian social history and the impact of war on our community that resonates to this day.  Steve will outline some of the key events and sites in France and Belgium where Australia’s contribution was played out.

 

 

 

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