World War II
Interpretation of the Beadle Wood-Carving
Visitors to Teachers Federation headquarters often remark on the symbolism in the memorial designed by Paul Beadle. Tom Spencer summarises below some of his thoughts on this topic.
Paul Beadle conveys many meanings through his use of symbols:
- The oak leaf: the solid oak of stability; solidarity; national pride; Australian and international spirit; the Australian countryside and trees generally, including the desert she oaks and the rain forest silky oaks. (Australian oaks are not true oaks but were probably given that name by early settlers because of their timbers.)
- The sun: the hub of the universe, providing light and life on our planet; the symbol of enlightenment ensuring education to all.
- The globe: our place in the world; the universality of sacrifice; an acknowledgment of our place in the universe.
- The open book: to keep a record, to satisfy the personal and international need for further knowledge, or to give knowledge.
- The grain and plants: the generation of a new nation or the development of a nation or an individual (teacher or pupil).
Throughout the carving there is an impression of tranquillity and peace, of hope for understanding, enlightenment and the development of nations.
We are given a choice of impressions of this soldier-teacher.
Is the recumbent soldier meditating, sleeping or in death?
Each of us has personal judgements to make if the soldier is meditating:
- Facially, does he suggest satisfaction of a job well done to achieve peace?
- Is he thinking of his past, of his deeds, of his home, of his career?
- Is he thinking of the rebirth (plants) of his career, of the world, of his search for knowledge (open book)?
- Is he thinking of the enlightenment (sun) of his self, of nations (globe)?
- Is he contemplating the germination (plants) of young minds, of nations, of new cultures?
- Does he have faith in the future, hope for his new world?
Is the soldier sleeping?
Sleep is a most important part of a combat soldier’s life, especially under jungle conditions. The conservation of energy, and the revitalising of the mental and physical being are essential. The soldier under these conditions has no respite from weather, heat, rain, wet jungle and muddy surfaces. He suffers from restricted food and no choice, lack of comfort, lack of clothing, and no change of clothing wet from creek crossings, rain or humidity. His day is long and surveillance ensures survival. A trench is a resting spot, with broken sleep – two hours on guard and two hours off.
If he is dreaming, is he dreaming of:
- his past and his survival?
- his hope for peace and enlightenment?
- relief from his arduous situation?
- his future and personal development?
- his enjoyment of life, its stability (the oak leaf)?
- his service to the world of peace?
- the development of a world culture (globe and open book)?
- a new life for himself and his pupils, his career and the world in general, and of the energy he will use to promote his dream of the future?
Is he killed in action?
Does the globe signify his sacrifice that will bring hope, tranquillity and a rewarding peace to the world? The globe may signify the universality of death, the universal need of sacrifice, the universal hope for the future.
The grain and plants could be funerary symbols of abundance in the next world.
The carving is a comprehensive statement of hope for universal peace, of future enlightenment, of understanding, faith and a belief in the future. The final message is a tribute to courage, heroism and the conquering of adversity: sacrifice has not been in vain.