More than 100 people carrying lanterns, lights and peace signs gathered in Wollongong last Saturday for a vigil to mark 80 years since the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II.

“The whole world is gathering in remembrance and in dedication for the victims and the survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,”  Hiroshima Day Committee member Dr Margaret Perrott told the crowd at Civic Plaza, near the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre.

“The survivors have spent their lives warning us that humanity cannot coexist with nuclear weapons.

“Hiroshima and Nagasaki – these cities are‌ not just history, they're also an eternal warning. The stories of the victims and the survivors tell us plainly that nuclear weapons are not a necessary evil in our world, and anyone who thinks they are is deluded.” 

On 6 and 9 August 1945, the US dropped two atomic bombs on those Japanese cities, killing and maiming hundreds of thousands of people. It was the first time atomic weapons had been used in war and the devastating side effects of their radiation were felt for decades.

For Saturday's Wollongong Against War and Nukes (WAWAN)’s rally, people of all ages came dressed in bright colours, holding lanterns and peace signs, as well as umbrellas. As rain and darkness fell, the group marched from the Civic Plaza along lower Crown Street to Belmore Basin, chanting, “Peace is possible, War is not the answer” and “Hiroshima – Never again”.

WAWAN formed in 2023 to oppose the possibility of the Australian Government locating a nuclear-powered submarine base in Port Kembla as part of the AUKUS agreement. The group – which advocates for a nuclear-free Illawarra and worldwide peace – ‌recently finished a three-week residency at the Wollongong Art Gallery, where they hosted lantern-decorating workshops on Saturday afternoon.

“We’re saying no to the submarines, no to a military base in Port Kembla,” said Margaret, a doctor who moved to Wollongong and joined the Medical Association for the Prevention of War in 1984.

“We’re saying no to the genocide in Gaza, no to militarism, and we’re saying no to nuclear weapons.

"We’re saying yes to peace, yes to humanity and we’re saying yes to nuclear justice and disarmament.”

In delivering his Welcome to Country, Yuin Dharawal Elder Mark Bloxsome said strengthening our peace movement is a priority. 

"We are building a strong grassroots movement against the Commonwealth government's AUKUS pact especially around a possible nuclear submarine base at Port Kembla," he said.

"I'm also confident that you will continue to be passionate about the commitment to a nuclear-free future here on Dharawal country.”

Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown spoke of the city’s proud history of standing for peace.

“Wollongong City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to our being a nuclear-free zone,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Our community has long stood for peace. We want to stand up for peace, for humanity, for safety, protecting our environment, and protecting our people.

“We will stand up and say no. Not now, not ever.”

Part of the Hiroshima Day Committee, the Socialist Alternative and Refugee Action Collective, Dr Margaret Perrott has helped to run Hiroshima commemoration days every August for decades.

“Who decides to go to war?” she asked the crowd. “Do ordinary people decide to go to war? No. The ruling class and their governments make these decisions.

"They fight over land, for example, Palestine and Ukraine. They fight over resources, for example, the Gulf War in Afghanistan over oil. But, in a nutshell, they fight over power. Their power to make profits for their businesses. In 2024, global military expenditure reached a record high of $2.7 trillion, and then, of course, there's AUKUS for a mere $360 billion dollars,

“I am not sad about war, even the shocking figures I have told you about today. I am angry. I burn with rage every time I think about how we live in a world where a ruling class is willing to kill millions of people for their interests and their profits.”

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