Bean Electoral District ACT named in Honour of Charles Bean

The Federal Electoral District division of BEAN is named in honour of Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean, 1879 - 1968. He was an Australian War correspondent to the Australian Imperial Force in World War One. During WWI, he was the official reporter of the “History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918”. I have checked out his war history, which includes the Gallipoli Peninsula landing at ANZAC Cove on 25th April 1915. As a WWI historian Charles Bean was a primary advocate to establish the Australian War Memorial.

This month is the third Australian Federal Election since the Norfolk Island residents were first registered in BEAN in the ACT electoral district. This was a new electoral area, named Bean which was first formed for the Federal Elections held on the 18 May 2019. Norfolk Islanders were required to be registered under the Australian Federal Electoral Rolls, our small remote island was included in this Canberra ACT district.

During my visit to Canberra in early 2020, I was overwhelmed at the Australia War Memorial, (AWM) the vast history and artifacts displayed. These exhibits were the inspiration of Charles E.W. Bean. After WWI he started the project, never knowing that WWII would follow and other world conflicts in more recent years. After the First World War, it took a long time before the Memorial's building in Canberra was constructed. In the meantime, large, long-running exhibitions were held in Melbourne and Sydney. Designing and construction of the building started before WWII and the Australian War Memorial was opened on Armistice Day 11 November 1941.

The AWM entrance area has a bronze sculpture which was commissioned as a tribute to Charles Bean 1879 – 1968). He was an Australian War Correspondent and from 1919, he was an official historian of the First World War. Bean is considered to be the founder of the Australian War Memorial. It was on the battlefields of the Western Front that he first conceived the idea of a combined archive museum and National Memorial to those who served.

Here is their spirit, in the heart of the land they loved; and here we guard the record which they themselves made. - Charles Bean, 1948.

The Memorial forms the core of the nation's tribute to the sacrifice and achievement of the more than 102,000 Australian men and women who died serving their country, and to all those who served overseas and at home. During my guided visit through the museum displays, I learnt the dioramas were one of Charles Bean ideas, these displays were so visual, with details of battle scenes and dug outs, many of the images he himself must have witnessed during WWI at Gallipoli and other areas.

I visited the Australia War Memorial a couple of times, returning to observe the “Last Post”. It was very moving to listen to the bugle and watch the service acknowledge those who went to war and the fallen soldiers and their families who sacrificed so much. Thank you, Charles Bean, for your vision to construct a museum dedicated to those who gave their lives for King and Country.

During my Canberra trip I also visited the Australian Old Parliament Building and the guided tour walked through many years of political history along the corridors. The same day I walked to the New Parliament and watched Politicians from the public viewing area. I did not see David Smith, the Australian elected member of Bean. It was busy at Capital Hill that day, with many school students also exploring the Australian Parliament Building.

If Norfolk Islanders hold an Australian Citizenship and are over the age 18 years, they are required to be enrolled on the Australian electoral list as eligible voters. The 2019 and 2022 Federal elections have been held since the BEAN electoral area was formed. This week is the May 2025 elections, and the final voting day is Saturday 3 May 2025. This is when we get to vote for a member of the Australian House of Representative and for a Senate Candidate member.

It was interesting learning more about Charles Bean on my trip to Canberra and so pleased I had the opportunity to visit the Australia War Memorial.

Betty Matthews

2 May 2025