Commemorating the Cowra Breakout
By: KATHERINE CANNON
11:30pm Wednesday August 6,2014
AUSTRALIAN author Tom Keneally was a special guest on Monday evening to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Cowra breakout.
In a lantern lit ceremony, people gathered as they paid their respects to all those who lost their lives.
Members of the community marched along Sakura Avenue from the Japanese Gardens to the POW camp.
Japanese visitors and Australians alike walked to the site of the mass breakout that has linked the two countries ever since.
Local runner Jess Banks proudly led the procession with Tom Keneally walking alongside residents listening and sharing stories of his own.
Lanterns were hung on the fence, quietly illuminating the stage where the local groups performed and entertained the audience.
A larger crowd came out for the 2am ceremony at the camp, marking the exact time over 1000 Japanese prisoners of war attempted their escape 70 years ago.
“The lantern walk was excellent. There was great community spirit and involvement and I thought it was a wonderful event, a wonderful link from the First World War to the Second World War,” Mr Ryan said.
In a lantern lit ceremony, people gathered as they paid their respects to all those who lost their lives.
Members of the community marched along Sakura Avenue from the Japanese Gardens to the POW camp.
Japanese visitors and Australians alike walked to the site of the mass breakout that has linked the two countries ever since.
Local runner Jess Banks proudly led the procession with Tom Keneally walking alongside residents listening and sharing stories of his own.
Lanterns were hung on the fence, quietly illuminating the stage where the local groups performed and entertained the audience.
A larger crowd came out for the 2am ceremony at the camp, marking the exact time over 1000 Japanese prisoners of war attempted their escape 70 years ago.
“The lantern walk was excellent. There was great community spirit and involvement and I thought it was a wonderful event, a wonderful link from the First World War to the Second World War,” Mr Ryan said.