Military history

War Widows Day on 19 October is now an official National Day of Commemoration first initiated in 2024 by the Commonwealth Department of Defence in collaboration with the Australian War Widows Inc. and Families of Veterans Guild. This is a special day of tribute dedicated to acknowledging and honouring the service and sacrifices of Australian war widows.

John Williams. During the Battle of Britain Luftwaffe pilot Heinz Grabow was shot down on 5 September 1940, making a good forced landing near Wichling, Kent ... Grabow’s damaged Messerschmitt 109 (Yellow7) was to become a story in itself, transported to Australia as a "prize" to be put on show at various locations including Nhill where it was exhibited on the 4th of August 1941 in the Williams Garage next to the theatre.

On Monday, 8 September at 11.30am, a special ceremony will be held at the Port Lincoln War Memorial in Eyre Park to plant a Fig Tree of Tobruk—a living symbol of remembrance and resilience that not only honours the legacy of Australian soldiers who served in the Siege of Tobruk during World War II, but also commemorates the enduring significance of the tree itself, which once offered shelter and solace to troops in the harsh desert conditions of Libya.

Joy Cassidy presented a touching talk as guest speaker at Cohuna RSL ... Joy spoke of her Aunt, Rosetta Joan Wight who was one of the 21 nurses massacred by the Japanese in WW2 after their surrender at Radji Beach, Bangka Island.

Lara Leahy. The first in a series of public lectures at Evans Head Living Museum kicked off with the Marjory Henderson Lecture on Wednesday, August 20. Marjory died aged 64. Five of her nine children were at the museum for the lecture. Three of them – Scott, Andrew and Margaret shared their stories.

A small and dedicated crowd attended a ceremony at Maldon Cenotaph on Monday 18 August to mark Vietnam Veterans' Day, which takes place on the anniversary of the 1966 Battle of Long Tan ... Around 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War between 1962 and 1973, of which over 500 died and thousands were injured.

August 18 marked almost 60 years since the Battle of Long Tan, reported as one of the most horrific conflicts by Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War. The date is now being acknowledged as so much more than the battle itself, with greater focus on the sacrifices made by all who fought in Vietnam.

A restored Huey helicopter visited Hay last week. Crewed by two veterans of the Vietnam War, the RAAF Huey 703 flew 1000 kilometres from Nowra to the Yorke Peninsula to mark the launch of a memorial walk. The Vietnam War Memorial Walk at Edithburgh will open next Monday, on Vietnam Veterans Day...

Joanna Tucker. Hundreds gathered in Edithburgh on Vietnam Veterans' Day to honour the bravery of Australians who served throughout the Vietnam War and to officially open the Vietnam War Memorial Walk. The opening drew more than 700 people, making it one of the bigger events in southern Yorke Peninsula's history.

Maureen Donnellon. Brian Lea, Birchip Probus president was guest speaker on the role played by Birchip Apex Club, from 1975, without whom, the Tchum Lake we know and love, may never have been created. Brian was the original treasurer of Apex at that time and has had an interest ever since in the story of the development of the lake.

A Living History Day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the historic Auchmore Home, will be held at the Nullawil Heritage Centre on Sunday, August 17. Nullawil Historical Society members are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the day with an opportunity to "step back in time".

The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has joined scholarship recipients, Hannah Saunders and Rhiannon Jack, in successfully completing the Kokoda Trail, marking the end of a profound journey honouring Australia’s wartime history and the enduring values of courage, mateship, endurance, and sacrifice.

Jenny Oldland. A casual coffee catch-up between Roger Hogben and John Edwards turned into something more lasting when the pair began discussing the day’s headline — the 50th anniversary of Australia’s withdrawal from the Vietnam War. From that conversation, the idea for a Vietnam War Memorial Walk between Edithburgh and Coobowie was born.

A “deceased” auction, August 10, has considerable personal interest to families living in the wider Wimmera region. The auction features some exceptionally rare passenger vehicles, circa late 1930s to the mid-1960s.

Nhill's Mervyn Schneider – fondly known as Merv – marked an extraordinary milestone last week, celebrating his 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends, and well-wishers. A celebration was held at the Nhill Bowling Club on Saturday, with more than 150 people in attendance.

Battle-ground engagement raged in Charlton last weekend, but it was more bonhomie than bloodshed as the 5th Mallee Melee unfolded at the Charlton RSL Clubrooms … the miniature wargaming weekend – likened by one participant to "chess on steroids" – saw visitors from Berwick, Nunawading and the Mornington Peninsula gear up for a weekend of the Napoleonic "General d’ Armee 2 Campaign Game".

The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy", the NAIDOC Week theme for 2025, is being celebrated in Narrandera this week. Celebrations started with an Opening Ceremony in Marie Bashir Park on Monday.

A collaboration of local community groups is working together on a project to construct a memorial in Corryong's Avenue of Honour and missing photos of local servicemen and women who served in World War I are being sought for the tribute.

Nestled within the rural confines of Northern NSW, the Clarence Valley is a long way from overseas conflicts ... more than 50 people including family members and representatives of servicemen and servicewomen, both former and current, came together at Grafton’s Schaeffer House Museum to attend the official launch of local publication A Military Connection.

Jenny Oldland. As work towards the opening of Edithburgh’s Vietnam War Memorial Walk gathers pace so too does the interest for the project’s opening celebrations, with tickets for the Behind the Lines concert, headed by John Schumann and The Vagabond Crew, selling fast.

Earlier this month, Year 10 students, along with Mrs Veal and Mrs O'Toole, from Allora P-10 State School visited the Allora Museum on Drayton Street to deepen their understanding of Australia's World War II history.