Statement on the appointment of Matthew Anderson

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Email: president@militaryhistorynsw.com.au

Statement dated 16 December 2019 by the Council of the Military History Society of New South Wales on the appointment of Mr Matthew Anderson as Director of the Australian War Memorial

In April this year, the Council of the Military History Society of New South Wales issued a statement supporting the proposed re-development and expansion of the Australian War Memorial in opposition to an open letter signed by 83 familiar critics.

The Council welcomed the joint announcement on 18 November 2019 by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel of the Commonwealth Government’s official adoption of the nine-year development project.

The Council now welcomes the announcement on 12 December 2019 that Mr Matthew Anderson PSM has been appointed to replace Dr Brendan Nelson AO as Director of the Memorial. The announcement notes that Mr Anderson is a veteran himself and “Graduate of the Royal Military College Duntroon, spending eight years as an Australian Army Officer, including three years as Troop Commander for the Royal Australian Engineers.”

We note that in comments to the media, Mr Anderson defended the redevelopment project and vowed to expand the Memorial’s mandate to focus on living veterans and more recent conflicts. 

The Council thanks Dr Nelson for his distinguished service in the role of Director. We congratulate Mr Anderson on his appointment and wish him well in his new role.

R Muscat, President

D Weatherall, Secretary/Treasurer

J Muscat, Editor

S Tan, Councillor

D Bamji, Councillor