How Victorians can mark Victory in the Pacific Day 75th anniversary at home
It is 75 years since World War II ended, but traditional Victory in the Pacific Day commemorations are off the table this year. Here’s how to honour our veterans in lockdown.
On August 15, 1945, Prime Minister Ben Chifley announced the end of World War II.
That milestone date would become Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day and, 75 years on, remains one of the most pivotal moments in history.
It was a day of jubilation, with crowds spilling on to city streets to dance and celebrate.
But it was also tinged with sadness, as people remembered the sacrifice made by service men and women during the six-year war.
We may be unable to mark the 75th anniversary of VP Day with traditional commemorations and gatherings this year, but there are still many ways to connect with and honour our veterans from home through online events and virtual exhibitions.
Whether you are isolating or socially distancing, here are some ways to mark the occasion.
WAYS TO MARK THE VP DAY 75TH ANNIVERSARY AT HOME
OFFICIAL SERVICE
Commemorate the end of World War II by joining the Victory in the Pacific Day online presentation on RSL Victoria Facebook or the Shrine of Remembrance Facebook on Saturday, August 15, at 11.20am.
GET THE KIDS INVOLVED
Let youngsters put their stamp on the day by creating bunting designs to decorate the front gate or fence, inside windows or front door.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Share your messages of support and thanks on social media by using hashtags #victoriaremembers and #VPDay75. Head to Victoria Remembers Facebook page to download the 75th Anniversary World War II Facebook Frame to honour past and living family members who served during World War II.
EXHIBITIONS
WWII AT HOME: RESPONSE, REFLECTION AND REJUVENATION
Immerse yourself in the past with the help of this interactive showcase, which takes you on a trip down memory lane on the 75th anniversary of VP Day.
The online exhibition delves deep into the history of World War II in Australia and Victoria’s role, focusing on 18 significant sites.
From the Loveridge Lookout at Anglesea to the Mallacoota Bunker in East Gippsland and the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, WWII at Home reveals the role each landmark played during and after the war.
History is brought to life as veterans tell their stories, while virtual-reality tours, video pieces and interviews with experts reveal Victoria’s response to war and the positive transformation that occurred as a result, making this an important way to mark the 75th anniversary while social distancing.
The exhibition is by the National Trust of Australia in conjunction with the Centre of Victorian Architecture and Open House Melbourne.
When: August 15, 2020, to August 15, 2021
Where: See the virtual exhibition online.
WOMEN WORK FOR VICTORY IN WORLD WAR TWO
This fascinating exhibition explores the part women played during the war and how their role in the workforce changed in the face of adversity.
As the men left for the trenches, women stepped into what were previously considered to be masculine roles when the government launched a recruitment campaign to encourage women to sign up for “victory jobs”.
Women Work for Victory in World War Two shares the stories of Australian women who left their old lives behind to do their bit for the troops — from manufacturing weapons, enlisting in auxiliary services and providing labour to farmers by joining the Women’s Land Army.
The exhibition also reveals how the war sparked a push for equal pay for female workers.
When: August 15, 2020 to June 27, 2021
Where: See the virtual exhibition online or at the Old Treasury Building, 20 Spring Street, Melbourne, when it reopens.
IMAGINING CENTAUR
In this haunting exhibition, award-winning artist Dean Bowen explores one of the worst war crimes perpetrated against Australia.
Only 64 out of the 332 people on board survived when the AHS Centaur, an Australian hospital ship, was torpedoed without warning by a Japanese submarine on May 14, 1943.
When the wreckage of the ship, which was en route from Sydney to Papua New Guinea, was found near Moreton Island off the Queensland coast in 2009, Bowen was inspired to pay homage to the tragedy through a series of interpretive charcoal drawings.
A must-see for art lovers and history buffs alike, Imagining Centaur is a beautiful and unsettling showcase that pays a fitting tribute to the lives lost at sea.
When: August 2020 to April 2022
Where: Check out some of the exhibition online or see it at the Shrine of Remembrance when it reopens.
RAAF IN THE ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING
The wartime occupation of the Royal Exhibition Building began in October 1940, when the RAAF requisitioned it for use as a barracks and training facility.
So it is only fitting the historic building plays a role in marking the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day.
Stories of RAAF and WAAAF personnel stationed there will be shared by Museums Victoria, and fascinating details of the hundreds of personal items hidden on site since WWII will be revealed.
Opened in 1880 for the Melbourne International Exhibition, the Royal Exhibition Building also hosted the opening of the first Federal Parliament on May 9, 1901.
In 1919, the Great Hall was commandeered as a hospital during the Spanish flu pandemic. After WWII, a migrant reception centre was established on the grounds.
The Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens are now a World Heritage site.
When: August 15 to December 30, 2020
Where: See the digital stories online.
OTHER WAYS TO HONOUR OUR VETERANS
THANK A VETERAN
Write a letter to a World War II veteran thanking them for their service and RSL Victoria will distribute the letter. Post to RSL Victoria, ANZAC House, 4 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR VETERANS
The Department of Veterans Affairs would like World War II veterans to receive a Commemorative Medallion and Certificate of Commemoration.
If you know someone who is a veteran, ensure they receive their medallion and certificate by registering their details or calling 1800 838 372.
EXPLORE SIGNIFICANT PLACES WHEN LOCKDOWN ENDS
Explore Victorian sites used during WWII as they were then, and as they are now, including Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and HMAS Castlemaine at Williamstown.
LEARN MORE ABOUT VP DAY AND WORLD WAR II
Read more about the war and the significance of Victory in the Pacific Day.
HERALD SUN VP DAY 75TH ANNIVERSARY MAGAZINE
Pick up your free 24-page glossy VP Day 75th anniversary commemorative magazine in your Herald Sun this Saturday, August 15. It features:
- Incredible tales of Australian war efforts.
- Patrick Carlyon’s stirring account of what the end of World War II meant for Australians.
- Moving recollections of how we celebrated VP Day and the end of World War II.
- The tale of the secret Mallacoota bunker that was one of Victoria’s most significant World War II sites.
Originally published as How Victorians can mark Victory in the Pacific Day 75th anniversary at home
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