TRANSCRIPT
The Cowra Prison of War Campsite in the New South Wales Central West is a memorial to the fallen.
Just before 2am on August 5th, 1944, the sound of a bugle coordinated the escape of hundreds of Japanese prisoners armed with cutlery and makeshift weapons.
Guards opened fire but several hundred prisoners escaped into open country, while others set fire to the camp buildings.
234 Japanese were killed during the breakout with a further 108 wounded.
Four Australian soldiers were also killed – three in the breakout and one during recapture.
It was the only land battle fought in Australia during World War II and cost more lives than the bombing of Darwin in 1942.
80 years on, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led the tributes.
"Today is a day in which we remember and honour those who have lost their lives, in which we join with the local Cowra community in acknowledging this important historic event on the 80th anniversary. Today is a day, as well, that we rededicate ourselves to peace at a time where there is so much turmoil and conflict in the world. It is important to remember that out of those very dark days of World War II, has grown a friendship between our two nations."
With the outbreak of war, there were concerns about the impact of the war on Australia.
At the peak of the war over 12,000 German, Italian and Japanese people were interned in Australia.
Some were locals who had lived in Australia for years.
Allies of Australia had also sent what were then known as 'enemy aliens', mostly German and Japanese, to Australia to be interned.
Once wartime enemies, reconciliation between Australia and Japan began in the years after the war when Cowra's returned servicemen tended to the graves of their fallen comrades.
Federal member Michael McCormack says the Cowra community opened its hearts in what was a very difficult time.
"The world can learn a lot from Cowra because it was Cowra that reached out, it was Cowra that said, "we forgive, let's have this war cemetery, let's have this commemoration". Of course, 80 years ago this was a scene, right here, of chaos and sacrifice. 234, we will say brave, Japanese internees fighting for their freedom and four Australian's lost their lives. We remember, lest we forget, those lives that were lost and we will always commemorate this event here in Cowra."
The Cowra breakout remains tethered to the community's identity.
The camp has been preserved as a historical site and a traditional garden sits on the edge of town, filled with cherry blossom trees and lakes teeming with Koi carp.
Mr Albanese says this gesture serves as a powerful message to all people.
"For generations, we've seen the spirit of humanity kept aglow by the Cowra community. We’ve seen the respect blossom in the Japanese garden, an oasis of reflection framed by Australian trees. The people of Cowra remind us that no matter what, our common humanity has the power to transcend everything. In the wake of the bleakest of nights, Cowra took the ashes of war and tenderly and carefully nourished the roots of friendship."
The anniversary is also being commemorated at the Australian War Memorial with a Last Post ceremony, to honour Private Charles Henry Shepherd, one of the Australian soldiers killed.
