The Women's War Patriotism, Service & Dissent
7 October 2017 – 24 June 2018
This exhibition examines WWI from the perspective of southern women and charts the diverse ways in which they participated in the historic events of 1914-1918. Women’s wartime roles ranged from patriotic activity (by far the most common), to military service as nurses and volunteers, as well as a small minority who stood fast against war.
Much of this women’s experience of war is poorly represented in archives and museum collections so the exhibition has gone all out to recover stories of individual women. The results may surprise with the diverse activities and places where Otago women played their part.
One special group of women is at the heart of the exhibition. A medal named for the Belgian Queen Elisabeth was bestowed on 25 Dunedin women at war’s end, recognition by the Belgian authorities for all their wartime fundraising on behalf of Belgian causes, especially their practical support for Belgian refugees.
The exhibition is open during normal museum hours. Admission is free.
The Women's War