Spreading Archibald Baxter’s message of resisting war and conflict, and finding positive alternatives to them, can take many forms. The Trust is continuing its peace education work in schools and plans to sponsor a debating cup, as well as progressing a number of literary projects relating to his famous wartime memoir, We Will not Cease.
Along with maintaining the national memorial to conscientious objectors and hosting an annual peace lecture, the trust is committed to reaching out to the Southern community, especially young people. We first sought to meet this aim though an essay competition for school pupils, which proved difficult to sustain.
In 2022, this prompted the trust’s involvement in the Bishop’s Shield, an annual public speaking and debating competition between the four Catholic schools in the Dunedin Diocese – Verdon College (Invercargill), St Peter's College (Gore), Trinity Catholic College (Dunedin) and St Kevin's College (Oamaru). In 2023, we offered the winning schools a $250 cash prize to donate to a charity of their choice.
Today, the trust has formed strong links with the Otago-Southland Schools' Debating Council (OSSDC) and has sponsored a debate on a peace-related theme beginning in 2024, when the event, held at the Universty of Otago, was won by Taieri College, with Logan Park High School runner-up. In 2025, the Archibald Baxter Memorial Trust mid-seasonal debating tournament was held at Columba College. The tournament was won by Columba on the finals motion "This house would honour conscientious objectors on war memorials," with Taieri College runners-up.
At these events, a trustee gives a brief address and hands out book prizes for the winning teams. A cash donation is given directly to the OSSDC to cover registration fees for those attending.