The 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, November 11, was commemorated in Sydney with a series of events highlighting the struggles of the peace movement over the past century.
Armistice Day marks the date of the ceasefire between the opposing imperialist powers that officially ended World War I.
Armistice Day 2018 was marked with a community remembrance ceremony at the entrance to the Addison Road Community Centre (ARCC), with the presentation of 20 new plaques celebrating the achievements of noted campaigners for peace over the years. Recipients included anti-war and anti-nuclear campaigner John Hallam, lawyer Bernard Collaery and "Witness K" for defending East Timor's right to sovereignty, prisoner rights activist Brett Collins, Iranian refugee journalist Behrouz Boochani and songwriter John Dengate.
This was followed by the closing of the art exhibition, "War is Over! Armistice and the Dream of Peace" at the nearby StirrUp Gallery. The exhibition of anti-war paintings and drawings had run from November 4. The closure ceremony featured local federal Labor MP Anthony Albanese, long-time peace activist Hannah Middleton and the Solidarity Choir.
In the afternoon, a free peace concert was held on the Green at ARCC, celebrating 100 years of anti-war songs and verse. Musicians and poets included Dennis Aubrey, Tug Dumbly, Christina Mimmochi and Greg White, the Solidarity and Trade Union Choirs, Good in Theory, Darlene Proberts, Margaret Bradford, Jeanie Lewis and the Trippy Hippy Band.