Gerry McCarthy MINISTER FOR ARTS & MUSEUMS

15 February 2011

New World War II Exhibition Open at the Library Arts and Museums Minister Gerry McCarthy today invited Territorians to visit a new World War II exhibition currently open to the public at the Northern Territory Library.

Mr McCarthy said The Track: 1000 Miles to War focuses on military activities along the Stuart Highway from to Darwin during the Second World War.

“This exhibition focuses on the transformation of a rutted dirt stock route to a fully functioning highway supporting crucial military operations during World War II,” Mr McCarthy said.

“Through a series of display panels, visitors to this exhibition will learn about a significant history and the enormous benefit the north-south road brought to Territorians and how Alice Springs became the Territory’s main military base following the bombing of Darwin.”

This exhibition will be on display at the Library until 20 March 2011 and will then travel the Stuart Highway and be displayed at the Museum of Central in Alice Springs from 15 April to 16 October 2011.

Also on display in the Library will be Sam Calder’s flying log book and medals, which are highly treasured by the Library. Calder flew Typhoon planes throughout World War II, completing 120 missions over and receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Mr McCarthy also encouraged Territorians to attend a lunchtime talk at the Library this Saturday commemorating the 69 th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin.

“His Honour the Administrator, Mr Tom Pauling AO QC, will host the talk and be joined in conversation by former Administrator, Mr Austin Asche AC QC and at the completion of the talk, Mr Pauling will officially launch the exhibition,” Mr McCarthy said.

“Following the lunchtime talk a book launch for Darwin’s Air War (2 nd edition) by Bob Alford will be held at the Library.”

Mr McCarthy said a small commemorative display to mark the Bombing of Darwin on 19 February 1942 will also open at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) this Saturday, containing artefacts recovered from the wreck site of the Don Isidro .

Go to www.ntl.nt.gov.au for more information about exhibitions at the Library or www.nt.gov.au/magnt for more information about events at MAGNT.

Contact: Edwin Edlund 0401 119 563