Major General Bill Crews, Chair of AVCAT, attended the Dedication Ceremony on 22 February 2024 of the sculpture For Every Drop Shed in Anguish. This artwork was crafted by Alex Seton, who spoke passionately about his approach to the brief to provide a place in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial for those who have experienced and witnessed the ongoing trauma that can result from service, and for Memorial visitors to reflect on this experience.
The evolution of this project began some time ago at the instigation of family members of those who have served, together with current and former members of the Australian Defence Force. They collectively sought a means of recognizing those who have suffered as a result of service, acknowledging that at the extreme end, it can result in death by suicide. It was recognized that this project was running in parallel with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The project was guided by a representative stakeholder group who did an excellent job of assisting Mr Seton to present a most meaningful sculpture.
In Alex Seton’s words, For Every Drop Shed in Anguish is a field of marble droplets set on the grass of the Australian War Memorial. These rounded and abstracted liquid forms represent every drop of blood, sweat, and tears ever shed by Australian military personnel and their families.
Each droplet is carved from Australian Pearl Marble sourced in Queensland. The warm tones and intricate veins of the form invite contemplation and reflection on their delicate shapes, welcoming every visitor to touch and caress their surface as an act of respect and consecration. The imperfections in the marble, with veins of deep rust-red iron oxide and bandings of grey, blue and yellow, display character and beauty, embodying the scars, seen and unseen, borne by many military personnel and their families.
This was a well-attended dedication service, and Bill Crews felt privileged to have been invited to attend as a veteran, Chair of the War Memorial’s Anzac Foundation, and particularly on behalf of the wider AVCAT community.
