Great War exhibit will ‘touch our hearts’

A WAR that killed 2432 Tasmanians is being remembered at an exhibition in Launceston.

A WAR that killed 2432 Tasmanians and more than 60,000 Australians is being remembered at an exhibition in Launceston.

Great War 1914-18 — Sacrifice and Shadows, at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, was launched by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, a former general whose grandfather served in that war and again in World War II.

He said no other event had had a bigger impact on the nation and its way of life and the exhibition, prepared by QVMAG’s Louise James, had conveyed that impact with breathtaking humanity, relevance and immediacy.

“Louise has achieved what we thought was not possible,’’ he said. “The exhibition reaches out and will touch our hearts. It will make us feel closer to the impact of the war on ordinary Tasmanians.’’

Sir Peter said it also conveyed the physical, emotional and psychological torment faced by soldiers who survived the war.

Ms James said the exhibition had been a labour of love.

“I really wanted this one to come up to the mark,’’ she said.

Originally published as Great War exhibit will ‘touch our hearts’