The Armistice Living Tribute Comes to Baw Baw Shire

Published on 09 October 2018

Centenary of Armistice 1918 - 2018

Baw Baw Shire Council will be hosting a free street theatre performance developed to recognise the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the Armistice which brought an end to World War One.

Armistice Living Tribute involves professional circus artists performing acrobatics alongside the Warragul Municipal Band.

The performance will encourage people to think about the significance of the Armistice and what they will be doing on Remembrance Day, 11 November 2018, the Armistice Centenary.

Performances will be hosted at Civic Park in Warragul on Sunday 28 October at 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

The show tells the story of Australia’s military musicians who from 1914 until 1966, had two roles to play. They were both members of the military band and stretcher-bearers and medics who served under fire. It was a tradition that Australia inherited from the British army, but one that the Anzac musicians made their own. 

Musicians served in combat in all of Australia’s wars, until the practice ceased in 1967, during the Vietnam War. Members of the band of 5 RAR were the last musicians to serve in combat positions.

Mayor of Baw Baw Shire Cr Joe Gauci encourages all residents to come along and see the shows.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the Armistice Living Tribute performance to Civic Park in Warragul. Performances like these provide a great opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate our common heritage and values.”

The street theatre performance is supported by the Victorian Government as the final event of the four-year Anzac Centenary campaign. 

The community can join the conversation about the Armistice Centenary by using the hashtag #ArmisticeVictoria on social media.

Images: The Armistice Living Tribute performers in costume.

Image: Outdoor group portrait of unidentified band members of the 5th Battalion.