AN exhibition which aims to tell the stories of the lives of more than 30 women of Australia and New Zealand through the original costume of World War I opened in Bendigo last night.
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The launch of the Women Of Empire Exhibition 1914-18 was held at The Capital theatre from 7.30pm.
Former Victorian Premier and chair of the Anzac Centenary Committee Ted Baillieu gave the official opening address following a performance by the Women of Note choir.
Mr Baillieu welcomed guests including New Zealand Consul General Stephen Blair and Turkish Consul General Ersel Ozdemir, Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters, Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards and City of Greater Bendigo mayor Peter Cox.
He said the exhibition was especially an opportunity for young people to acquaint themselves with the important stories of the war.
"One of our objectives in Anzac Centenary Committee is to make sure that people connect in whatever way they possibly can to the events of the first world war," he said.
"The threads of connection are as important than anything else, the stories that get told, the songs that get sung, the exhibitions which get held, they are precious.
"We need to ensure the next generation remains connected to those stories, this is one way of doing it."
Exhibition curator Fiona Baverstock encouraged all attendees to make an effort to return.
"Come back and read every sentence of every story because these extraordinary ordinary women are just incredible and we want to give them honour," she said.
A letter from Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who penned a letter for the official launch of the Letter To The Fallen Project, was then read out.
The project aims to get Australians to write a letter to an unknown soldier from the war.