Editorial

In this issue we continue with the theme of Peace. We look at how Quakers in the past stood against militarism, and the glib assumption that war will solve our problems. This year Australia commemorates the War That Did Not End All Wars, and Quakers remember those who...

“Child Conscription – Our Country’s Shame”

Jenny Madeline, New South Wales Regional Meeting This is the title of a passionately-worded, 16-page, booklet authored by John F. Hills, a South Australian Quaker, in 1912. It was issued in response to the implementation in 1911 of the Defence Bill of 1909 that...

Margaret Watts – an extraordinary worker for peace

Sabine Erika, New South Wales Regional Meeting “Our testimony against war if it is to be vital must not be mere testimony against the use of armed force – it must cut at the roots of war.” John William Rowntree [during the Boer War] This was a favourite quote of...

The story of the flags

Jan de Voogd, New South Wales Regional Meeting   Twenty-five years ago when the Australian Navy was celebrating its 75th birthday, there were many ships from foreign lands in Sydney Harbour and many of those were nuclear armed. The Sydney Peace Squadron which was...

Commemorating World War I

Harold Wilkinson, Quaker Peace and Legislation Committee The Anzac Centenary and other World War I commemorations threaten to engulf the next four years in displays of militarised versions of Australia’s national identity. However, these same commemorations also...

To end all wars: preventing war, building peace

David Purnell, Canberra Regional Meeting This was the title of a conference of the United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) held in Sydney on 25-26 July 2014, which I attended. The structure of the program meant that the first day focused on the centenary of...