SYDNEY: To mark the 111th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Professor Bruce Scates - a renowned Australian war historian - will provide the keynote address at the National Armenian Genocide Commemoration in Sydney on Friday, 24 April 2026, 6:30pm at the Chatswood Concourse.
Bruce Scates is a Professor of History at the Australian National University, a Fulbright Scholar, a Fellow of the Australian Academy for the Social Sciences and a recipient/co-recipient of University, State and National Awards for Teaching Excellence. His many publications include Return to Gallipoli, A New Australia, the Cambridge History of the Shrine of Remembrance and Women and the Great War (co-authored with Raelene Frances). The last of these won the NSW Premier’s History Award.
Committed to communicating history to the widest possible audience, he devised a 12-part documentary series in collaboration with the National Museum of Australia and co-presents the same with his colleague from Monash University, Dr Susan Carland. He is a frequent contributor to writers’ festivals, history events and diverse public forums, a consultant to cultural institutions and his study of frontier violence was profiled in the first report of the Council for National Reconciliation.
Prof Scates’ address will explore the humanitarian efforts undertaken by Australians to aid the Armenian people during the Genocide. His lecture, titled “With Courage and Compassion: Anzac and Armenia,” will examine these acts of solidarity and the enduring legacy they represent. A central theme of the address will be the striking silence surrounding these efforts within the Australian War Memorial, raising important questions about memory, recognition, and historical acknowledgment.
The Armenian Genocide Commemorative committee extended their appreciation to Prof. Scates for his role in the event, with the Armenian National Committee of Australia’s (ANC-AU) Chairperson, Vache Kahramanian, saying:
“As we gather to commemorate 111 years since the Armenian Genocide, Professor Scates’ work on the Genocide reminds us that even in humanity’s darkest moments, there were acts of extraordinary compassion. The solidarity shown by Australians towards the Armenian people is a legacy we should all take pride in and continue to uphold.”
He continued, “we thank Professor Scates for making the time to join our community for this important evening and look forward to exploring this forgotten history.”
