Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Inc: Lemnos Gallipoli Exhibition Launched at Eltham Library

Mr Andrew Giles, MHR, and Councilors Mary Lalios and Christine Stow of the Shire of Whittlesea, and myself. Photo Jim Claven 2016

Saturday 6 August witnessed the launch of a month long exhibition focused on telling the story of the local impacts of the First World War on Banyule, Nilimbik and Whittlesea.
One of the features of the exhibition is the return of the Lemnos Gallipoli photographic display of 40 historical photographs of the Anzacs on Lemnos from 1915, curated by Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Secretary, historian Mr Jim Claven.

The exhibition launch. Photo Jim Claven 2016

The exhibition includes display from the State Library of Victoria called “Writing the War”, various artefacts from the war and material from the collections of the local RSL.
The event saw the launch of a major new publication on WW1 and local communities – Fine Sprit and Pluck – which contains stories of how the war affected local families, from those who joined up to those who remained behind. It includes new essays on individual diggers and nurses, as well as reproductions of local reports from the time. The project was funded by the Federal Government’s Anzac Centenary Grants program and coordinated by the Yarra Plenty Library’s Liz Pidgeon, who also authored some of the interesting articles contained with the book. The books cover is reproduced below. To obtain a copy of the book, please contact Eltham Library.

The exhibition and book was launched by Mr Andrew Giles, MHR for Scullin, and author Janet Butler, author of Kitty’s War.

MHR Andrew Giles admires some of the photos of the Anzac's on Lemnos in 1915. Photo Jim Claven 2016

Mr Claven introduced the Lemnos Gallipoli photographic exhibition to Mr Andrew Giles, MHR, and Councilors Mary Lalios and Christine Stow of the Shire of Whittlesea. Cr Lalios was instrumental in bringing the Lemnos Gallipoli exhibition to Eltham Library. Essendon RSL President, Mr Ange Kenos, assisted bringing the exhibition to Eltham Library too.

Committee member Ange Kenos at the exhibition launch. Photo Jim Claven 2016

he region has a connection to Lemnos and its role in the Gallipoili campaign in 1915. Apart from the diggers from the region who would have come to Lemnos as part of their involvement in the Gallipoli campaign, two locals have specific connections to Lemnos. South Australian Nurse Olive Haynes served on Lemnos with the 3rd Australian General Hospital and returned to live in Ivanhoe. Kangaroo Ground’s Stanley Addison was a Red Cross worker who came to minister to the soldiers at Gallipoli and on Lemnos towards the end of the campaign.
More photos of the exhibition are reproduced below.
Mr Claven will be delivering a presentation on the role of Lemnos in the Gallipoli campaign at the exhibition, at 7pm on Tuesday 16th August. All welcome.
The exhibition will be on display at the Eltham Library Community Gallery until 29th August Check with Eltham Library (Phone 9439 9266) for its opening hours.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee