On 22 November 2019, when Dr Brendan Nelson was still Director of the Australian War Memorial (AWM), many organisations and members of the public called for Australia’s ‘frontier wars’ to be recognised as part of the $500 million expansion of the AWM. Read more at: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6506929/support-for-frontier-wars-commemoration-in-awm-public-consultation/ It remains to be seen if the new AWM Director, Matthew Anderson PSM, a former Army officer and Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, will take up the challenge. Read more about Mr Anderson’s appointment, announced on 13 December 2019 at: https://www.awm.gov.au/media/press-releases/matthew-anderson-director
Update 5 October 2022: Former Defence Minister and former Director of the Australian War Memorial, Dr Brendan Nelson, was appointed as the Chair of the Council of the Australian War Memorial on 22 April 2022. Dr Nelson, also chairman of Boeing Australia, will take up a position as president of Boeing International in London from January 2023. Read more in Andrew Tillet’s article, “Brendan Nelson to head Boeing International in London”, Australian Financial Review, 26 September 2022: https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/brendan-nelson-to-head-boeing-international-in-london-20220926-p5bl1d
On 29 September 2022, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh, announced at a press conference that the Australian War Memorial would be expanding its exhibitions on the frontier wars. Press conference transcript available on the minister’s website: https://minister.dva.gov.au/news-and-media/minister/press-conference-australian-war-memorial