After his meeting with the Australian Minister Stuart Robert on November 12, Minister-president Bourgeois announced that he would plan a mission to Australia in the spring of 2017 during which he'll inaugurate the Memorial Garden in Canberra.
Robert Stuart is the Australian Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and responsible for the commemoration of the First World War. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) played a major role in the Battle of Messines and the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917, during which 38.000 Australian soldiers lost their lives.
Flanders and Australia are planning several events in 2017 to commemorate the Battle of Messines and the Battle of Passchendaele. One of these events will be the inauguration of the Memorial Garden at the Australian War Memorial in the capital Canberra.
Minister-president Geert Bourgeois: "The Memorial Garden is a symbol of hope, peace and reconciliation. It is a place to honor and remember the Australian soldiers who fought, suffered and died in Flanders Fields. At the same time, we want to raise awareness with present and future generations in Australia and Flanders for issues such as peace and international cooperation in an open and peaceful world.”
The Great War Centenary
