By Lucy Waldron
The Amiens History Association hosted its firset annual Fundraising Dinner and it was a huge success.
The Amiens Historical Society welcomed prominent guest speaker Wayne Swan, former Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer of Australia, at their annual dinner.
Held in Amiens, the evening honoured the contributions of soldier settlers in the area and showcased a new public mural celebrating the community’s history.
The evening began with a humorous yet respectful introduction by Roger Willis, who acknowledged Swan’s political stature and the complexities of addressing a conservative heartland.
“Politics is a noble profession, and it’s a tough gig. By taking responsibility for tough decisions, Wayne gets a big tick,“ Willis said.
Swan, deeply connected to Amiens through his family history, spoke warmly about his great-grandfather David Temple Swan, a soldier settler in the 1920s. He emphasised the resilience of these early settlers, many of whom were war veterans with limited farming experience, who worked tirelessly despite the burdens of physical and emotional scars from the war.
“These veterans wore the pain and suffering of wartime experience as bravely in their farm labours as they did in combat,“ he reflected.
He also shared personal stories of visiting the area as a child in the 1950s and 60s, reminiscing about the close-knit farming community.
“It was a content community, helping each other out through tough times, particularly during fires and hailstorms,“ Swan said, remembering the warmth of the neighbourhood despite the challenges.
One poignant moment in his speech recalled the return of his great-grandfather’s war medals in 2014. “I had no idea it was coming. They had been stolen in the 1960s and were found by a collector who cared enough to research their origin,“ Swan recounted.
The medals symbolised not just the bravery of his ancestors but also the sacrifices made by many soldiers who settled in Amiens after the Great War.
Swan highlighted the importance of acknowledging the hardships faced by both soldiers and their families, noting, “When we go to war, we have to look after both the people who march away and the people they leave behind. War doesn’t finish when the armistice is signed; it stretches out over decades.“
A key feature of the evening was the unveiling of a new mural, Sunrise Over the Settlement, created by local artist Franco Arcidiacono.
Swan concluded by expressing his gratitude to the local community for preserving the history of the area. “It means a great deal to me and my family that there are so many people here fighting the good fight in Amiens and preserving what is such an important district,“ he said.
