The Chair for the day was Bernie McIntosh.  Thanks Bernie for your synopsis.

"Jim Barry presented at the Club on Wednesday and in a broad response to the topic, “1919 and The Aftermath to the Great War” he covered the effects on Australia which lasted all through the 1920’s, the Great Depression, and, even towards WW II.

In his speech he considered some of the 1919 effects:

• ​Australia had suffered 60,000 killed. 145,000 wounded;
• ​The impact on the people – both servicemen, their families and citizens generally!
• Effects were both physical and mental;
• ​Shell Shock (PTSD) affected everyone in some way or other. ​No family was not affected!
• ​One quarter of women had no male partner!

Jim also led us to consider the social effects ---​ Australia became a divided Nation:

• ​Religion. (even some districts or towns) and certainly Politics;
• ​Returned soldiers versus civilians, especially those that did not serve!
• ​Recriminations were rife!

Jim considered the negatives as Australia was quite different after the Great War – now known as WW I:

• ​Disillusionment was everywhere,
• There was an ‘underlying sense of tragedy’ and despair.
• ​Described by one historian, ‘as a tentative Nation’
• ​The Soldier Settlement Scheme, in most cases, proved to be a disaster.

There obviously were some good things that emerged:

• ​PM Billy Hughes had Monash put in charge of some 150,000 troops and ​personnel to be repatriated back to Australia in order ‘to keep him out of the ​political picture’.​
• ​This Monash achieved in 8 months using a ‘first over first back’ selection basis. ​Monash kept them occupied by implementing a vast program of Education, ​Training, Entertainment and Sport.
• ​The birth of the Repatriation Commission, and, what became the Department of ​Veteran Affairs (DVA) was a bold initiative that is still receiving some criticism.
• ​DVA was internationally visionary when set up;  and, for all its faults, suffering would have been incomparably greater!
• ​The formation of the now RSL in 1916 by many disgruntled soldiers.
• ​The RSL became their only effective lobbyist to the Government..

Jim has been a wonderful supporter of the Club and we were fortunate to enjoy his company once again.'  Thanks Bernie.

Share this with your friends