News

Kohen Allen, great-grandson of a seaman who died in the sinking of the Centaur. His school remembers the loss each year at the Point Danger memorial to the Centaur.
Feature

Ship's wartime sinking marked by school namesake

Centaur Primary School was named after a World War II hospital ship sunk by a Japanese torpedo 80 years ago. When Centaur Primary School was established, the shipwreck that inspired its name had yet to be found.

From NSW Government, Education

Captain Reg Saunders
Feature

The Legacy of Captain Saunders and the Forgotten Greek Theatre of War

As part of the programme of events for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete, first nations Elder Aunty
Glenda Humes will deliver a talk about her father, Reg Saunders, the first indigenous commissioned officer in the Australian Army who fought in Greece, a forgotten theatre of war in our Anzac story, but an important part of our shared Australian-Greek history.

From Greek City Times

Musician Scott Collinson stands beside the name of his relative, Private Alexander Walker, prior the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, France. Photo: Sergeant Oliver Carter.
Community News

Gone but not forgotten

Musician Scott Collinson was moved to be playing in the Australian Army Band at the Dawn Service in France, just metres from where his great-great-uncle’s name is engraved on the Australian National Memorial wall.

From Defence News

This photo provided by the Australian War Memorial shows the Montevideo Maru
Article

Explorers find WWII ship sunk with over 1,000 Allied POWs

SYDNEY — A team of explorers announced it found a sunken Japanese ship that was transporting Allied prisoners of war when it was torpedoed off the coast of the Philippines in 1942, resulting in Australia’s largest maritime wartime loss with a total of 1,080 lives.

From Military Times

Portrait of Vivian Bullwinkel by Shirley Bourne (Australian War Memorial)
Feature

ANZAC Day: Remembering the Bangka Island massacre

As the only Australian nurse who survived the massacre, Lieutenant Bullwinkel overcame the atrocities of war with heroism, strength and tenacity. She also showed an incredible commitment to caring for the sick and wounded.

From Insight

Banana's World War One Memorial will be officially unveiled on Thursday, 13 April. Pictures supplied.
Feature

WW1 Memorial unveiled

What started as an interest in the history of the Banana Shire has led to the development of a World War One Memorial.

From CQ Today

Anzac Day honours all service personnel.
Feature

Coming together for Anzac day

Anzac Day 25 April is Australia’s national day to recognise all military personnel who have served our country over more than a century. Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Alison Frame said this year Australians will commemorate the 108th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings at home, in the community, and overseas.

From Bundaberg Today

Pic
Community News

Finley marks centenary of war memorial efforts

At this time of the year, with Anzac Day fast approaching, many people’s thoughts turn to those who fought for our freedom and paid the ultimate price.

Amongst the fallen were young men from our own community.

From Shepperton News

ANZAC DAY PREPARATIONS: Narrabri RSL Sub-branch president Gary Mason OAM and Bill Pownall clean the light columns on the Narrabri War Memorial on Tuesday.
Community News

Narrabri War Memorial prepared for Anzac Day

Preparations are underway for Anzac Day commemorations to be held in Narrabri later this month. On Tuesday, maintenance work was carried out at the Maitland Street memorial. The light columns were opened up, cobwebs removed and the lighting in the 11 towers cleaned.

From The Courier

The Cenotaph, Queens Park Moonee Ponds
Community News

Remembering the ANZACS 2023

Ahead of Anzac Day on 25 April, community members are invited to join Moonee Valley City Council in honouring the Anzacs at a commemoration ceremony on Sunday, 23 April at 3pm at the Queens Park Cenotaph in Moonee Ponds.

From City of Moonee Valley

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart with Regimental Sergeant Major – Army Warrant Officer Kim Felmingham, WW2 veteran Mr Awati Mau and members of Sarpeye Company, 51FNQR
Feature

Community marks anniversary of unique Indigenous unit

One of two surviving veterans of Australia’s only all-Indigenous military unit joined the Torres Strait Islands community and Australian Army members on Thursday Island on 17 March to mark the 80th anniversary of the unit's formation.

From Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs

Reunion: 1966-67 Vietnam veterans visiting the Seymour Vietnam Memorial
Feature

Veterans visit Seymour memorial

A group of 25 Vietnam veterans from across the country visited the Seymour Vietnam Veterans Walk on Friday, March 24.

From Shepparton News

nurses
Community News

Australians asked to share stories of nurses massacred on Bangka Island

In collaboration with the Australian College of Nursing, the ACN Foundation is calling for family, friends and colleagues to share stories and reflections of Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel AO, MBE, ARRC, ED, FNM, FRCNA and the 21 nurses who lost their lives at the Bangka Island Massacre in 1942 in one of the worst atrocities of World War II.

From Contact

Ray Thorold-Smith
Community News

Ray Thorold-Smith: The Manly pilot shot down near Darwin during World War II

He was tall, handsome and good enough to play rugby union for NSW and could have been a successful doctor if he hadn’t been shot down by a Japanese pilot near Darwin in 1943.

Ray Thorold-Smith is credited with downing at least five German aircraft and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

From The Daily Telegraph

Town hall
Feature

A refresh for Toc’s memorial hall

The Tocumwal War Memorial Hall is getting a facelift - possibly its first since it was built in approximately 1927 to commemorate the soldiers of the area who served in WWI

From Shepparton News

 Members of the Voyager Survivors Association in front of the newly named Voyager Mess at HMAS Creswell.
Community News

Touching tribute for Voyager survivors

On the moonless night of February 10, 1964, aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne sent a signal to Fleet Headquarters in Sydney, which read only ‘Voyager is sunk’. T

From Australian Government Defence