Saint Peter's Anglican Church - Bruce Rock, Western Australia, Australia
S 31° 52.604 E 118° 08.845
50J E 608527 N 6472653
This tiny church in a small farming community 200 kilometres east of Perth is the focal point for an annual Back To The Bush Veterans Reunion.
Waymark Code: WMD8W9
Location: Western Australia, Australia
Date Posted: 12/06/2011
Views: 5
This six-day event is held on the week before Remembrance Day each year and attracts veterans from all over Australia. Hundreds of caravans, camper vans, mobile homes and tents etc fill the oval at the Bruce Rock Sports and Recreation Centre for six days of golf, lawn bowls, singsongs, and mingling etc, and culminates in a march down the main street on the Saturday afternoon and around to Saint Peter's Anglican Church for a Service of Remembrance and ceremonial lighting of a candle behind the Vietnam Veterans Peace Window.
The Peace Window was commissioned by the Bruce Rock and Wheat Belt Vietnam Veterans, designed by Mrs. Sue Muntz, made by Mr. Murray Arnold, and housed at St. Peter's Anglican Church, Bruce Rock Western Australia. The window was consecrated in November 1971, with the local Vietnam Veterans inviting all veterans of all conflicts to mark the occasion. That was the first "Back To The Bush Veterans Reunion", and the event has continued to grow each year, very well supported by the Shire of Bruce Rock and all veteran organizations. Saint Peter's also has five other stained glass windows, but the Peace Window is especially significant to the veteran community.
The Peace Window is dedicated to all Military personnel and Civilians who served in the Vietnam Conflict from 1962. The design, as can be seen in the photo, is described as follows:
A dove carrying a sprig of flowering eucaluptus is a symbol of an offering of peace from God. (My Peace I give to you. I give you so as the world gives, do I give, but my Peace. So let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid....John 14:27).
A sunrise represents the Military Forces.
The white cross is the design of the Long Tan Memorial Cross, erected in Vietnam in memory of the Battle of Long Tan which occurred over the night of 18/19 August 1966. A US Presidential Unit Citation (PUC) was awarded to D Company 6 RAR, by President Lyndon B. Johnson on 28 May 1968, for the unit's actions at Long Tan. The anniversary of the battle is remembered by Australians as Vietnam Veterans' Day. Further details of the battle can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Long_Tan.
The blue sky represents Australia and the green hills her rich and diverse cultures. The shadow represents the lasting memories this military campaign has on the stages of Australian History.
The colours used are the colours of the campaign ribbons.
As far as was known at the time of dedication The Peace Window at Bruce Rock was the first "Stained Glass Window" dedicated in appreciation of the service of the Vietnam Veterans of Australia.