Specific Wars, Resistance and International Campaigns
After completing his studies, Malcolm Fraser embarked on a political career and succeeded in being elected as Liberal member for the seat of Wannon in western Victoria at his second attempt in 1955. A backbencher under Menzies for ten years, Fraser gained his first cabinet post as Minister for the Army under Prime Minister Harold Holt in 1966. Whilst in this role, Fraser made several visits to Vietnam and engaged with the issues the Australian Army faced, including differences in the tactics employed by the Australian and American armies. During this time he gave multiple radio interviews and released press statements on the subjects of protest, the moratorium parades, nuclear testing, and disarmament. After the war had ended, The Fraser government was responsible for Australia's first comprehensive refugee policy, which was developed in response to the arrival of mostly Vietnamese asylum seekers who had been displaced by war.
Collection number: 2007.0023 (28 boxes and online finding aid)
Bernie Taft is best known for his association with the Communist Party of Australia. He was however very active in the anti-Vietnam War movement, and became vice-president of the Vietnam Moratorium Campaign, led by Labor figure Jim Cairns, that organised the large demonstration against the war in Melbourne in 1970.
The collection includes handwritten notes by Taft on topics including anti-war, anti-racist and CPA strategy; circulars from the Vietnam Moratorium Campaign and World Peace Council material; publications about the CPA and anti-war movement; and statement by the Victorian Executive of the CPA about the future of the anti-war movement and government oppression, and Vietnam Moratorium Campaign.
Some units of specific importance to the Peace Movement include:
2010.0053 Unit 65 Item no. 2010.0053.00904
2010.0053 Unit 70 Item no. 2010.0053.00969
2010.0053 Unit 98 Item no. 2010.0053.01299
2010.0053 Unit 101 Item no. 2010.0053.01343
Collection number: 2010.0053 (107 boxes and online finding aid)
Ralph and Dorothy Gibson were political activists and conscientious objectors who were strongly involved with the anti-Vietnam War movement. The collection includes papers regarding campaign against the Vietnam War including publicity and publications; minutes, papers, correspondence, handbills, posters and photograph relating to the campaigns and organisations, including the A.L.P., the C.P.A., anti-conscription and conscientious objection, Save Our Sons, Medical Aid for Vietnam, the Moratorium campaigns.
Collection number: 1981.0153 (4 boxes and online finding aid)
Margaret Frazer and her husband Jim were Scottish immigrants who became involved in the Peace Movement and had a particular interest in peace culture. This collection includes papers, booklets and press clippings relating to peace and anti-war movements from the mid 1950’s to the mid 1980’s. Much of the anti-war material is related to the campaign against the Vietnam War, conscription and the sufferings of Vietnamese people and war crimes committed.
Collection number: 1993.0158 (7 boxes and online finding aid)
PAX was a Catholic Peace Movement active in the early stages of the Vietnam War devoting much of its activity towards opposing the war and supporting conscripts seeking exemption as conscientious objectors. An association pledged to the quest for peace through prayer, study and action for peace, with justice and freedom for the whole human family.
This collection includes materials from the Victorian Branch of PAX, a Catholic peace, anti-war and social justice organization comprised of pamphlets, reports, circulars leaflets, newsletters, news clippings and correspondence.
Collection number: 1996.0003 (2 boxes and online finding aid)
Arthur Howells began his political activism upon joining the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). During the 1930’s he joined the anti-war movement and began writing stories and articles. Upon moving to Melbourne in 1933, he wrote for ‘Smith’s Weekly’ and ‘Labor Call’, and was elected to the executive of the Victorian Council Against War. The collection includes photographs, pamphlets and ephemera from the Spanish Civil War and in particular Australia’s place in Spain; short stories and personal memoirs; political handbills, and Howells’ memoirs ‘Against the Stream’.
Collection number: 2003.0024 (2 boxes and 3 newspaper folders and online finding aid)
The Congress for International Co-operation and Disarmament (CICD) emerged from the Australian and New Zealand Congress for International Co-operation and Disarmament held in Melbourne in 1959. Its founders were peace activists, unionists and church leaders who together with the Victorian Peace Council supported a move for a holistic and democratic approach to peace and nuclear disarmament.
Since its inception the movement has actively campaigned, co-ordinated and facilitated war protests and rallies including the Vietnam Moratorium (1970-1972), Palm Sunday Peace Rallies, and opposition to French Nuclear Testing (1990s). CICD has also worked to foster an informed and active public opinion through media programmes and publications. Circa 1987 the organisation changed its name to the Campaign for International Co-operation and Disarmament (CICD). In 2009 it held its 50th Anniversary of active campaigning making it the longest serving peace organisation in Australia.
Movement Against Uranium Mining (MAUM) commenced as a group c.1976 to lobby against uranium mining in Australia. They also acted as one point in a network of anti-nuclear organisations, which included Nuclear Free Australia and Friends of the Earth (FOE) who all cooperated on joint campaigns. It was also an educational resource group for school and a general source of public information on Australian and international nuclear issues.
This collection includes minutes of MAUM meetings; correspondence; press releases; newsletters; news cuttings; joint campaign files; local and overseas information files; educational videos and cassettes; posters; badges; World Information Service on Energy; photographs by John Ellis; Children Anti-nuclear Art. All c1976-1994.
Formed as a branch of the International Peace Campaign (IPC) and to coordinate support for the Brussels Peace Congress. A wide variety of community bodies were affiliated. Following the outbreak of war in 1939 the IPC succumbed to differences of opinion over the invasion by the
USSR of Finland and Poland.
The collection includes IPC Federal and state executive and council minutes, 1937 - 1940; Victorian Branch constitution; correspondence between federal and state bodies; commission reports from national and international peace congresses; campaign material; membership cards. Spanish Civil War: correspondence, leaflets, press cuttings; Japanese invasion of China: meetings, discussion papers, booklets; Port Kembla black ban on export of iron to Japan in 1938 campaign material