There are more than 1.5 million war items in the Australian War Memorial’s collection, but high above on the top of Mount Ainslie, there has been a solitary intangible tribute to peace.

Few Canberrans would know that an annual peace vigil has been held on the eve of Anzac Day since 2011, a quiet gathering without fanfare as the sun goes down.

A Chorus of Women, along with “lantern-master” Graeme Dunstan, started the event 15 years ago to elevate peace on our national holiday of remembrance. There is no visible shrine, just songs and breaking of bread together as a symbol of shared grief, carrying hand-made lanterns as they wind their way down to the bottom of Mount Ainslie.

Chorus member Meg Rigby said they were respectful of service people who had sacrificed their lives in war, but they also wanted to return to the original purpose of the Australian War Memorial (AWM) — remembrance.

“The Memorial is actually a sacred place for the souls of those soldiers who couldn’t find a permanent resting place,” Meg said. “We never want to have war again, so it is actually about peace, not war.”

AWM director Matt Anderson said that at its heart, the AWM was an ode to peace by being a constant reminder of the human cost of war.

“When the AWM was officially opened in November 1941, the [then] Governor-General Lord Gowrie said he believed those who visited the shrine should declare: ‘never again’,” Mr Anderson said.

About 840 metres above the AWM sculpture garden, where some 150 plaques commemorate war, A Chorus of Women have been gathering to “re-imagine peace in a war-torn world”.

“We will mindfully share our individual and collective longings for enduring peace,” they say. “In the darkness we will kindle our fire and the light of our lanterns… We will sing up peace.”

So, who exactly are these women of song? They began in 2003 when about 150 women filled the foyer of Parliament House with a song of lament – at the exact moment the Australian Government announced joining the US-led invasion of Iraq on 18 March 2003. Their first song made national news (ABC’s 7.30 Report) and international media (UK).

Their annual peace vigil has become an official part of the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival. However, due to the AWM’s recent $550 million expansion, participants have been unable to walk down Mount Ainslie to meet behind the AWM.

“Some of the fitter more courageous people walked down the mountain in the dark carrying the lanterns and gathered again in Remembrance Park for some more community singing,” Meg said. “But that needed to stop a few years ago… Remembrance Park was pretty difficult to use and there was no parking.”

Even though construction work has now finished, the peace vigil is relocating for the first time in 15 years (besides 2020 when it went online due to Covid). A Chorus of Women said the location change was for logistical reasons (transporting lanterns/parking) and the vigil will now take place outdoors at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture in Barton, overlooking the lake.

The public is welcome to join the ANZAC Eve Peace Vigil on Thursday 24 April at 5:30pm at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Barton. A Chorus of Women is on Facebook and chorusofwomen.org