Source: Facebook/Australian High Commission, Singapore
Australian and Singaporean partners commemorated wartime history through music, remembrance and cultural heritage.
The Australian High Commission in Singapore joined Australian and Singaporean partners in commemorating shared wartime history through Heritage in Harmony, a musical project featuring songs written by Australian prisoners of war during their time in Changi.
Source: Facebook/Australian High Commission, Singapore
High Commissioner Mudie, accompanied by members of the Australian Defence Force, attended and supported the event last Friday. The programme was developed through a collaboration between the Australian International School (AIS) and HeritageSG, which brought the Changi Souvenir Song Album to life.
The songs featured in the album were written by Australian prisoners of war Ray Tullipan and Slim de Grey while they were held in Changi. Performed by students from the Australian International School, the songs reflected how music was used during wartime to sustain morale and foster hope amid difficult conditions.
Source: Facebook/Australian High Commission, Singapore
The project provided an opportunity to remember the experiences of prisoners of war while highlighting the role of music in preserving personal and collective memories from the period. The Australian High Commission described the songs as a testament to resilience, courage and the human spirit.
The event also involved the Changi Chapel and Museum, which joined AIS and HeritageSG in the project. The Australian High Commission thanked the three organisations for their partnership and for including Australia in the commemoration of an important chapter in Singapore’s history.
Source: Facebook/Australian High Commission, Singapore
The gathering also highlighted the longstanding relationship between Australia and Singapore, including their defence ties. The High Commission noted that the defence partnership had developed through decades of friendship, trust and shared service between the two countries.
Source: Facebook/Australian High Commission, Singapore
Through the performances and commemoration, Heritage in Harmony connected Singapore’s wartime heritage with contemporary cultural engagement involving Australian and Singaporean participants. The project also provided students with an opportunity to interpret and present historical material through music.
Source: Facebook/Australian High Commission, Singapore
The event concluded with a remembrance of those who experienced the hardships of the wartime period, underscoring the continuing importance of preserving historical memory between Australia and Singapore.
Source: Facebook/Australian High Commission, Singapore
