Australian Living Peace Museum · Items

Leaflet, ‘Don’t Register for National Service’, 1971

This is a leaflet entitled ‘Don’t Register for National Service’, which was circulated in Melbourne by trade union leaders in 1971. It has black text on a yellow background, except for the words "Don't register for National Service" in the middle of the page, which has yellow text on a black background. At the top of the page it says "10 Trade Union Officials take a stand on conscription" and gives reasons for urging young men not to register for national service. At the bottom it includes the names of the ten union officials making this statement.

Letter, Department of Labour and National Service to Ken Mansell, September 1965

This is a letter from the Department of Labour and National Service to Kenneth John Mansell, dated 21 September 1965. It has typed black text (with the date in red and the final signature in blue) on a yellowed background. It explains that Mansell's "liability to render service under the National Service Act has been indefinitely deferred." It includes Mansell's address and registration number.

Booklet, ‘Vietnam: Is it Truth We Want?’, Jim Cairns, 1965

This is the front cover of a booklet entitled ‘Vietnam: Is it Truth We Want?’ It was written by Dr JF (Jim) Cairns MHR and published in 1965, by the Victorian Branch of Australian Labor Party. At the top of the page it has a map of South-East Asia, showing Vietnam in red. The bottom half of the page has four hand-drawn images (clockwise from top left): two men in pants and shirts and a woman in a Vietnamese-style dress talking to each other; three people wearing traditional conical hats working in a field; a man's face, also wearing a conical hat; and a city streetscape, showing buildings, a road, and trees.

Leaflet, ‘Why Register For National Service’, 1968 or 1969

This is the front cover of a four-page folded leaflet entitled ‘Why Register For National Service’, from 1968 or 1969. It has black text on a yellowed background. It asks readers that "If your son or boyfriend is due to register, please pass this on to him." As well as the text, it has a picture of the back of a soldier, who is holding a gun and facing trees and two helicopters in the distance. The leaflet was ‘published and printed with authorization by the undersigned from Victoria, NSW, Tasmania, and South Australia’. Versions of this leaflet first appeared in Melbourne in 1968, published alternately by the Young Socialist League and the Centre for Democratic Action (57 Palmerston Street Carlton). It was reprinted numerous times with an ever-increasing number of signatories from all states.

Sticker, ‘No Conscripts to Vietnam’, Trades Unions Vietnam Committee, 1966

This is a yellow sticker with black text. It says ‘Youths: Unionists: Mothers say No Conscripts to Vietnam’. It was issued by Trades Unions Vietnam Committee in 1966. It was intended for sticking on telegraph poles, lampposts, and billboards.

Instructions to Medical Practitioners booklet, issued by Department of Labour and National Service, 1965

This is the cover page of a 12-page booklet issued to medical practitioners in country districts, by the Department of Labour and National Service, in 1965. The heading is "PRELIMINARY MEDICAL EXAMINATION FOR REGULAR FORCES OF THE NAVY, ARMY, AND AIR FORCE." It has black text on a white background.

Photograph, ‘Peace is Trade Union Business’, Melbourne, September 1970

The photograph shows two men in the foreground: a bearded man holding a camera, and a clean-shaven man in a hat carrying a placard that says "VIETNAM...... A BOSSES WAR". There is a crowd of men and women in the background, including someone carrying a placard that says "BRING ALL TROOPS BACK" and a banner saying "STOP WORK TO STOP THE WAR!" The crowd is on the streets of the Melbourne CBD. It was taken during the second moratorium demonstration against the Vietnam War.

Booklet, ‘Downdraft’, Melbourne Draft Resisters’ Union, 1971

Front cover of Downdraft (a draft resistance manual), first edition, authorized by Tony Dalton on behalf of the Melbourne Draft Resisters’ Union, 1971. Printed by SDS Press 57 Palmerston Street Carlton (Ken Mansell private collection)

Leaflet, "Conscientious Objection and National Service Act," published by the Federal Pacifist Council of Australia, June 1965.

Leaflet (folded, six pages) published by the Federal Pacifist Council of Australia (Australian Section of War Resisters International, Hawthorn East, Victoria). The page shown says "Conscientious Objection and National Service Act, 1951-1965. What the Law is What your Rights are What your Obligations are". The words are in black text on a white background.

Photograph, Burwood United Football Club, 1965

Photograph of a football team and support taken on a football ground. There are twenty seven people arranged in three rows. Ken Mansell is in the front row, second from right, in a sleeveless top.

Photographs, of painting 'Zarb Hero' by Ken Mansell (October1968), Ken Mansell, 1981

Photograph of a brick wall with the slogan 'Zarb Hero' painted on it. The graffito was painted by Ken Mansell in October 1968 on the back wall of the Fowlers Vacola factory near the corner of Lynch Street and Power Street, Hawthorn, in response to the jailing in Pentridge of resister John Zarb (October 1968). The photographs of the well-preserved graffito were taken in 1981 also by Mansell.

Front page of the last edition of The Peacemaker (newspaper), Dec 1971

Front page of the last edition of The Peacemaker (newspaper), Vol. 33 no. 9-12, Sep-Dec 1971, depicting a photograph of Michael Matteson.

Front page of The Peacemaker (newspaper), June 1965

Front page of The Peacemaker (newspaper), Vol. 27 no. 5 June 1965, with headline "First C. O. Court Hearings" also including article "Quaker Mission to Indonesia and Malaysia"

Front page of The Peacemaker (newspaper), June 1955

Front page of The Peacemaker (newspaper), Vol. 17 no. 6 June 1955, with headline "Let us renounce war" and including articles "Appeal to Men and Women" and "These Pay the Price of Renunciation"

'The light of the world', artwork published in The Peacemaker (newspaper), December 1941

Artwork entitled 'The light of the world' showing a figure of Jesus Christs juxtaposed besides military aircraft and guns, published in The Peacemaker, December 1941

'My Kingdom is not of this world', artwork published in The Peacemaker (newspaper), July 1940

Artwork entitled 'My Kingdom is not of this world', showing 6 military planes overlaid with the image of a Christian cross, published in the Peacemaker (newspaper) in July 1940

Photographic portrait of Christopher Weeramantry.

Photographic portrait of Christopher Weeramantry in court clothes with a caption reading "As the world will remember Christopher Gregory Weeramantry: Judge of the International Court of Justice: one of the finest who ever served humanity."

Photograph, first interstate conference of the Australian Peace Alliance, 1916

Photograph of the first interstate conference of the Australian Peace Alliance sitting at a table with paper on the table looking to camera, Left to right: Miss Adela Pankhurst (Vic), J F Hills (SA), Miss Vida Goldstein (VIC), Mr McFarlane (NSW), Rev Albert Rivett (NSW), F J Riley (sec), Miss Celia John (Qld), R S Ross (Qld), Rev F Sinclaire (chairman), T J Miller (Vic), Mrs Emma Miller (Qld)