Entertainment
The Southland Museum and Art Gallery’s Southland’s War: The Western Front is a must see exhibition for families and people of all ages.
The large exhibition is on the ground floor of the museum and features a range of items, including interactive “war-zone” location maps, and information pieces.
Following on from the hugely popular Gallipoli Experience, Southland’s War features new themes, stories, artefacts and technology.
There is also the Virtual Reality (VR) aspect to the exhibition where the public has the chance to wear a VR headset which allows them to experience active war trenches.
Museum operations manager Hayley Browne said the VR experience was proving popular with people from all age groups.
On display is a range of war equipment and clothing, short biographies and photographs, the role of woman, soldiers and medical staff, as well as the chance to find out more about two Southland soldiers, Richard Travis and James Douglas Stark.
At the final part of the display the museum invites visitors to remember an Anzac, ancestor or family affected by the war by writing a message and posting it on a board with a handmade paper poppy – there are hundreds on the board.
Southland’s War: The Western Front opened on Anzac Day this year and will be at the museum until November next year.