Specific Wars, Resistance and International Campaigns

After completing his studies, Malcolm Fraser embarked on a political career and succeeded in being elected as Liberal member for the seat of Wannon in western Victoria at his second attempt in 1955. A backbencher under Menzies for ten years, Fraser gained his first cabinet post as Minister for the Army under Prime Minister Harold Holt in 1966. Whilst in this role, Fraser made several visits to Vietnam and engaged with the issues the Australian Army faced, including differences in the tactics employed by the Australian and American armies. During this time he gave multiple radio interviews and released press statements on the subjects of protest, the moratorium parades, nuclear testing, and disarmament. After the war had ended, The Fraser government was responsible for Australia's first comprehensive refugee policy, which was developed in response to the arrival of mostly Vietnamese asylum seekers who had been displaced by war.

Collection number: 2007.0023 (28 boxes and online finding aid)

Ralph and Dorothy Gibson were political activists and conscientious objectors who were strongly involved with the anti-Vietnam War movement. The collection includes papers regarding campaign against the Vietnam War including publicity and publications; minutes, papers, correspondence, handbills, posters and photograph relating to the campaigns and organisations, including the A.L.P., the C.P.A., anti-conscription and conscientious objection, Save Our Sons, Medical Aid for Vietnam, the Moratorium campaigns.

Collection number: 1981.0153 (4 boxes and online finding aid)

Margaret Frazer and her husband Jim were Scottish immigrants who became involved in the Peace Movement and had a particular interest in peace culture. This collection includes papers, booklets and press clippings relating to peace and anti-war movements from the mid 1950’s to the mid 1980’s. Much of the anti-war material is related to the campaign against the Vietnam War, conscription and the sufferings of Vietnamese people and war crimes committed.

Collection number: 1993.0158 (7 boxes and online finding aid)

PAX was a Catholic Peace Movement active in the early stages of the Vietnam War devoting much of its activity towards opposing the war and supporting conscripts seeking exemption as conscientious objectors. An association pledged to the quest for peace through prayer, study and action for peace, with justice and freedom for the whole human family.

This collection includes materials from the Victorian Branch of PAX, a Catholic peace, anti-war and social justice organization comprised of pamphlets, reports, circulars leaflets, newsletters, news clippings and correspondence.

Collection number: 1996.0003 (2 boxes and online finding aid)

Arthur Howells began his political activism upon joining the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). During the 1930’s he joined the anti-war movement and began writing stories and articles. Upon moving to Melbourne in 1933, he wrote for ‘Smith’s Weekly’ and ‘Labor Call’, and was elected to the executive of the Victorian Council Against War. The collection includes photographs, pamphlets and ephemera from the Spanish Civil War and in particular Australia’s place in Spain; short stories and personal memoirs; political handbills, and Howells’ memoirs ‘Against the Stream’.

Collection number: 2003.0024 (2 boxes and 3 newspaper folders and online finding aid)

Formed as a branch of the International Peace Campaign (IPC) and to coordinate support for the Brussels Peace Congress. A wide variety of community bodies were affiliated. Following the outbreak of war in 1939 the IPC succumbed to differences of opinion over the invasion by the

USSR of Finland and Poland.

The collection includes IPC Federal and state executive and council minutes, 1937 - 1940; Victorian Branch constitution; correspondence between federal and state bodies; commission reports from national and international peace congresses; campaign material; membership cards. Spanish Civil War: correspondence, leaflets, press cuttings; Japanese invasion of China: meetings, discussion papers, booklets; Port Kembla black ban on export of iron to Japan in 1938 campaign material