Eurobodalla film maker Ian Hibberson, who studied at the prestigious International Film College, has combined his passion for World War One and film making into a unique mini-documentary.
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Mr Hibberson’s career included seven years in the National Archives where he worked with in the WW I digitisation project.
This project involved re-boxing, re-packaging, re-housing and digitising of 430,000 WW I service records.
“Each time I held a record in my hand it was like holding a soldiers life and I have blessed with having worked in such an important role,” Mr Hibberson said.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs offered small grants through the Local grants program to successful organisations to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.
Mr Hibberson has worked tirelessly with the Moruya District Historical Society to submit a successful bid.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity for the community to know about the diggers who served from the local region and remind the younger generation of who these soldiers were and what they did for our country.”
The idea was to make six mini-documentaries about the lives of WWI personnel who served from the Eurobodalla region.
“Often we see plaques, statues of cenotaphs in our local area with names on them but do we know who these people really are? Or what they did? “ Mr Hibberson said.
“Often we see images of infantry men in trenches, but there was more to war then just these soldiers. The aim of the documentaries is to highlight the roles of Army personnel.
“We have included a nurse from the Australian Army Nursing service, a driver/ gunner, a machine gun instructor and navigator, a pilot/signalman from the Australian Flying Corps, a light horseman and engineer and an infantryman.
“There was a vast amount of talent on the NSW South Coast when the war broke out. “There was a lot more to the war then just Anzacs , although their role was significant, and the battle of Fromelles and the Somme and many other campaigns deserve recognition as well. So we have traced the footsteps of these soldiers to highlight where they served and what the conditions might have been like.
“We tracked down original diaries, artefacts and interviewed relatives to bring an emotional and compelling look into the lives of these people, and the lasting influence they had on their community. The films will be a permanent reminder and local resource for the community in years to come.”
The films will be shown on Anzac Day at the Moruya Mechanics Institute in Page Street Moruya from 10am.
For more information contact Mr Hibberson 0414 975 674.