STORIES OF 0808^© PROJECT

Dr O'Flaherty launched the Stories of 0808^© Project at the 2012 Monash Leadership Forum at Scotch College. This Forum brought together Year 10 Leadership students from a range of Melbourne schools to discuss and plan their leadership opportunities with key presenters including the 2012 Monash Medalist, Prof. Jeffrey Rosenfeld, a Monash Foundation Scholar, a young Engineer.

Stories-0808 now seeks student and community help to tell the stories of Australian soldiers, nurses and other volunteers who were involved in the Australian Victory at The Battle of Amiens, 8 August 1918 (0808) by the Australian Army Corps, planned and led by General Sir John Monash.

Stories of 0808 are being sought from students about the soldiers on their school or community Honour Boards, WW1 Memorials or Avenues of Honour. In particular stories are sought from descendants of those who were at 0808 from their family records, photos, memorabilia and memories.

Stories will be consolidated on the 0808 website as part of the preparation for the 0808 Centenary in 2018.

0808

0808 Remembrance first convened at The Shrine on 8 Aug 2005 (0808).

Its aims are to remember and honour the significant achievements of Gen Sir John Monash and his Australian Army Corps at the Battle of Amiens. His innovative planning and their outstanding execution on 0808 ended WW1.

Their feats have been written out of British history and been overlooked and forgotten by most Australians. 0808 Remembrance aims to tell their story, honour their achievements and make all Australians aware of their contribution to ending WW1.

Monash Medal

The Monash Medal is awarded by The Rotary Club of Melbourne to an outstanding Australian who has made significant contribution to the Australian community, and beyond.

Monash, the first Australian Commander of the Australian Army Corps in World War 1, planned and led his soldiers to victory at The Battle of Amiens on 8 Aug 1918 (0808). Supported by the Canadians on their right flank the Australians spearheaded a victory at Amiens which brought about a far earlier than expected end to WW1.

Sir John Monash is Australia’s outstanding citizen for his long peacetime contribution to education, law, engineering, community service, public administration and civic life before and after WW1.

In keeping with Sir John Monash’s lifetime community contribution the Medal is inscribed - Leadership Integrity Service.

The Monash Medal has been awarded to – Sir Gustav Nossall, Professor Patrick McGorry and Professor Jeffrey Rosenfeld.

0808 Creative Schools Prizes

0808 Prizes^© are available for Primary and Junior Secondary students and for Schools creative original prose, poetry, art, music or electronic media based on the 2012 0808 topic – Monash’s letter^1. the eve of 0808 to all Australian Forces involved in The Battle of Amiens.

Each of the 0808 Prizes is valued at $1000

2012 Monash Leadership Forum

"Adopt as your fundamental creed that you will equip yourself for life,

not solely for your own benefit but for the benefit of the whole community"

John Monash

The first Monash Leadership Forum for Year10 students was hosted by Scotch College as part of 0808 Week coinciding with Australian Engineering Week. The Forum was jointly sponsored by 0808Inc., The Rotary Club of Melbourne (RCM) 0808 Committee, Spirit of Australia Foundation (SoA), Monash Foundation, Engineers Australia – Victoria (EA-V) and Scotch College.

Selected Year10 leadership students from 6 Melbourne schools and colleges participated. Tom Goodwin, School Captain of Scotch College, welcomed students and speakers and chaired the Forum.

Prof Jeffrey Rosenfeld AM, Monash Medal 2012, spoke of Monash - Leader of Men. He related Leadership to Service – each of us should consider how we prepare ourselves to serve our communities, outlining characteristics of effective leaders, such as Sir John Monash, and lessons in leadership that Prof. Rosenfeld learned over the years. He emphasized that leaders have to make tough decisions which means that, as a leader, not everyone is your friend.

Prof. Rosenfeld encouraged each student to be open to opportunities and generous in their responses.

Fergus Green, 2012 Monash Foundation Scholar, encouraged each student to fully Educate Yourself for the Future. Fergus is about to begin Masters and PhD studies at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

He recounted his wide range of studies, activities and interests in climate change and environmental law and writing on Australian and international climate change policy which led to his selection as a Monash Scholar.

Fergus also talked about the challenges John Monash overcame in developing the La Trobe Valley coal resources – and that he would face today’s challenges to deliver a sustainable solution.

Blair Stratton, representing Young Engineers Victoria, Engineers Australia, encouraged students to consider the Future of Engineering. He recounted his national and international opportunities as an engineer to be involved in key projects, and identified areas where engineers will be needed to make a difference such as transport, sanitation and his own field of fire safety engineering. Blair recalled a number of instances where he was able to travel and work as an individual and with his family because of his engineering profession.

Discussion, chaired by Tom Goodwin, led to each speaker telling of their goals when each of them was a Year 10 student. Jeffrey said he could have been a musician or a doctor but had no idea in which field of medicine. ‘At this stage keep your options open’ he said.

In response to a question, both Fergus and Jeffrey said that John Monash would “absolutely” seek environmentally sustainable solutions and that he would have been fully conversant with all issues, leading the way to find the best technical and community answer.

Students commented on the need for leadership and evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of democracy.

Significant Australians (SAs)

The SAs project is sponsored by the Spirit of Australia Foundation (SoA).

Outstanding Australians who have made significant contribution through their personal, community and professional lives are honoured.

Australia has been a nation for 11 decades – a special list denotes one Australian for each decade of our history (not decade specific) with Sir John Monash considered the most outstanding. Each year another Australian is added – our total is now 112 – one for each year since our Federation as Australia.

Naturally there is discussion and dispute about places on Significant Australians. Schools, individuals and organisations are encouraged to submit their lists commencing with the SoA nominations. For each new person to be added someone must be removed. Reasons for moves are expected and encouraged.

Who are your Significant Australians?

^1. Monash 0708 letter -

To The Soldiers of The Australian Army Corps

For the first time in the history of this Corps, all five Australian Divisions will tomorrow engage in the largest and most important battle operation ever undertaken by the Corps.

They will be supported by an exceptionally powerful Artillery, and by Tanks and Aeroplanes on a scale never previously attempted. The full resources of our sister Dominion, the Canadian Corps, will operate on our right, while two British Divisions will guard our left flank.

The many successful offensives which the Brigades and Battalions of this Corps have so brilliantly executed during the past four months have been the prelude to, and the preparation for, this greatest culminating effort.

Because of the completeness of our plans and dispositions, of the magnitude of the operations, of the number of troops employed, and of the depth to which we intend to over-run the enemy’s positions, this battle will be one of the most memorable of the whole war; and there can be no doubt that, by capturing our objectives, we shall inflict blows upon the enemy which will make him stagger, and will bring the end appreciably nearer.

I entertain no sort of doubt that every Australian soldier will worthily rise to so great an occasion, and that every man, imbued with the spirit of victory, will, in spite of every difficulty that may confront him, be animated by no other resolve than grim determination to see through to a clean finish, whatever his task may be.

The work to be done tomorrow will perhaps make heavy demands upon your endurance and the staying powers of many of you; but I am confident, in spite of excitement, fatigue, and physical strain, every man will carry on to the utmost of his powers until his goal is won; for the sake of AUSTRALIA, the Empire and our cause.

I earnestly wish every soldier of the Corps the best of good fortune, and glorious and decisive victory, the story of which will echo throughout the world, and will live forever in the history of our homeland.

JOHN MONASH

Lieut.-General

Cmdg. Australian Corps