CANBERRA: CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA’S COLLECTIVE MEMORY

This piece was originally published in  The Australian newspaper it has been substantially  updated since then. 

CANBERRA – THE PLANNED CAPITAL

Many Australians  are   ambivalent  about  the planned city of Canberra. Its monolithic buildings stand a little too far apart in their park like surroundings, and can appear sterile and alienating.  As the home of politicians and public servants it is an easy target for our cartoonists;

But jokes aside,  we should feel a sense of belonging in the Capital, even of ownership. Not only is Canberra the seat of government and justice, but its institutions preserve our history and help establish our sense of identity.  Several years ago I ventured into some of those iconic buildings, and my whole perspective of the city  changed.

LEST WE FORGET

Arriving on Remembrance Day, November 11,  I joined many others at the Australian War Memorial,  searching  the walls of remembrance for the names of our dead relatives.

At the official service many of us  placed poppies and wreaths beside those of the Governor General and the Prime Minister. Afterwards I visited an exhibition honouring the soldiers who fought in the trenches of France, where one of the most poignant exhibits was a battered tin sign reading, TO THE FRONT LINE.

The War Memorial holds an amazing collection of diaries, personal letters and photographs, available to the public through its Research Centre. However, it is in the Australian National Archives building (located within Canberra’s Parliamentary Zone) that individual war service documents, are held . I was able to access the records of a cousin who was blown to pieces on the first night of the bloody battle of Pozières, and of my great-uncle, Arthur Singleton. Arthur  fought in France after having already endured the  traumatic landing  at Gallipoli on April 25 1915. His battalion (the 12th) also participated at the battle of Lone Pine.

According to their mission statement, the National Archives seeks to, ‘preserve valuable Commonwealth records as part of the archival resources of Australia and make them accessible to present and future generations.’  The term “archival resources’ includes films, maps, posters, sound recordings, and even architectural models. The Archives Office also holds vital information for indigenous Australians, particularly the ‘stolen generation’. An index titled Bring Them Home lists the names of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were separated from their families. There is a special genealogical service for migrants and their descendants, through documents relating to arrival and settlement.

FAMILY HISTORY

Acting as guardian of the country’s literature is the nearby National Library. Under legal deposit provisions the Library receives a copy of every work published in Australia.  The Library also preserves our grassroots social history in an extensive newspaper collection, now digitized  and available  on-line free of charge as part  of the wonderful  archive, TROVE.   To the uninitiated, computerized records and microfilm readers can be daunting, but staff are approachable and unfailingly patient. Without electronic storage methods, public access would be impossible. These days the Library even archives individual websites considered  important for researching  the country’s cultural history. I was delighted when my own was selected for inclusion.

One of many study areas within the National Library.

The library has many other attractions, including public lectures by well known authors and constantly changing exhibitions.

MY DAY IN COURT

Within walking distance of the National Library is the imposing High Court of Australia, a 40 metre high construction of glass and granite on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. A wide, shallow fountain runs the full length of its forecourt. I entered this building warily, having a distinct fear of authority (perhaps a legacy of my convict ancestry) but a kindly attendant took me under his wing. He asked if I would like to attend a full bench hearing and supplied me with a two page précis of the current case. A company director had appealed to the highest court in the land after being held liable for half a million dollars of unpaid tax.

Fortified by a coffee in the High Court’s café I took my place in the public gallery. There was a sense of theatre as the seven Judges filed in. All those present bowed, according to protocol. Bewigged barristers assembled their papers, solicitors gave last minute instructions and proceedings began. Obscure precedents were quoted to support opposing arguments. At one point the appellants’ barrister distributed a photocopied sheet to the bench, prompting one member of bench to comment; “But how do we know this information is correct?’ Everyone enjoyed a  moment of levity when the barrister, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Rumpole of the Bailey, responded, ‘Well Your Honour I can only say, ‘Trust me… I’m a lawyer’

Two hours later the case was adjourned. There appeared to have been little progress and I was reminded of the interminable Jarndyce vs Jarndyce case in  Charles Dickens’ Bleak House. My advice would have been for the appellant to cut his losses and withdraw before  owing millions more  in legal fees.

During past visits to Canberra I toured Parliament House and The Mint, and wandered happily through the National Gallery and the innovative  Museum of Australia. But on this occasion I made a conscious effort to access the Capital’s collective memory, and to become more personally involved. As a result, the experience was far more rewarding.

OUR BOTANICAL HERITAGE

If my tour of the above buildings has failed to convince you that Canberra can be engaging and inclusive, let me suggest a visit to the National Botanic Gardens. This  oasis of peace and beauty  showcases the flora of the entire nation.  200 species of birds have been recorded here, and there are over 7,000 plant species. Despite Canberra’s harsh climate, diverse landscapes have been created, including a Rainforest Gully and Mallee area. In spring the wattles are a sight to behold and there is heavenly scent of boronia. Members of the Proteaceae family such as banksias and grevilleas are spectacular all year round. I was intrigued to hear that trees on the Garden’s eucalypt lawn inspired the 48 marble clad columns in the foyer of Parliament House.

I followed the main path to a rock garden, where a sign warned visitors not to scramble over the rocks due to the presence of highly venomous Eastern brown snakes. An English tourist was clearly wondering whether he should continue, and asked me what was stopping the snakes venturing onto the path. ‘Oh I think they train them not to,’ I told him, trying not to reveal my own terror.

Filled with nostalgia after delving into my family history I headed for the Tasmanian section. It lies beyond a large pond, where an egret fished with steely resolve and the musical ‘plink-plonk of frogs resembled notes being struck on a xylophone. As an expatriate Tasmanian it was a joy to rediscover the landscape of my childhood. I recognized ferns that grew around the dams on my father’s farm and found trees such Leatherwood, Blackwood, Sassafras, Myrtle beech, and the famous Huon Pine.

After returning home  I  planted a Gallipoli Rose (Cistus salvifolius) purchased in Canberra. It originally grew on the cliffs above Anzac Cove and was released some years ago by the Australian War Memorial in conjunction with the Yarralumla Nursery.

The simple beauty of the Gallipoli rose.

I have also been checking the High Court’s website regularly, to discover whether ‘Rumpole’ managed to achieve a positive outcome for the appellant in the tax case.

FEEL FREE TO LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.  REMEMBER TO COMPLETE THE SIMPLE ANTI-SPAM SUM BEFORE PRESSING ‘SUBMIT’.