Former Co-founder and President of FOKE, Anne Carroll OAM, talked about the life and work of her grandfather, Charles E.W. Bean at the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society meeting on 22 June, 2024.

Charles Bean (1879-1968) was a historian and an Australian war correspondent. He was editor and principal author of the 12-volume Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918, and a primary advocate for establishing the Australian War Memorial (AWM). He was also a conservationist as the founder of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement of NSW which he established in 1930.

Many consider Ku-ring-gai as the birthplace of the Australian conservation movement with conservationists such as Charles Bean, Annie Wyatt, Eccleston du Faur, John Sulman, Paddy Pallin, Robert Pallin, Nancy Pallin, Alex Colley, Charlie Veron.

C.E.W. Bean’s diaries, photographs and records are recognised by the National Committee of Australia Memory of the World (AMW) listing. UNESCO Australian Memory of the World (AMW) Program honours documentary heritage of significance for Australia and the world, and advocates for its preservation. Find out more HERE