Shrine Stories: The Afghanistan Mountains
Shrine of Remembrance
Kat Rae is an artist and veteran of the Australian Army who has transformed her experiences with Defence into striking art. In this episode of Shrine Stories, we learn about the inspiration, process and message behind Kat's series of reduction linocut prints that depict the mountains of Afghanistan. To follow Kat's work, head to katrae.net Content Warning: This episode discusses themes of mental health and suicide that may cause distress. If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For a full list of support services, head to shrine.org.au/wellbeing-resources. Music: Across the...
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Shrine Conversations: What's it like photographing the Belgian Army's Bomb Disposal team?
Shrine of Remembrance
Artist Ian Alderman spent seven years photographing the Belgian army’s bomb disposal team as they recovered ammunition from land that was once the battlefields of Passchendaele. Once a shell was identified, he had just two minutes to capture the moment before the team moved on to their next call. This intricate work culminated in Recovering the Past—a unique photographic exhibition that connects these Belgian men with men of the Australian Imperial Force who fought during the First World War. The two groups are united through the art of photomontage, which results in a...
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Shrine Conversations: What happened in Stalag Luft III after The Great Escape?
Shrine of Remembrance
The Great Escape has gone down in history as one of the most crafty, yet ultimately tragic, escapes from a prisoner of war camp (listen to our other episode, 'Shrine Stories: The Great Escape', to hear the full story!). But what happened in the camp after the escape? Were the remaining planned escapees punished? And how did the men cope with the news that 50 of their own had been killed? Flight Lieutenant James Anthony Cathcart 'Tony' Gordon was 180th in line to escape, and his son Drew Gordon joins us for this episode to share his father’s story, and what life was like after the Great...
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Shrine Stories: The Great Escape
Shrine of Remembrance
The Shrine Stories podcast takes you on a deep dive behind the objects on our gallery floor. In this episode, we explore the story behind a Norwegian language certificate that sheds light on the lengths some prisoners of war went to to escape captivity during the Second World War. The certificate belonged to Squadron Leader James Catanach, and for fans of the movie ‘The Great Escape’, this episode is sure to interest you. Music: Across the Line - Lone Canyon
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Shrine Stories: The Peace Graffiti
Shrine of Remembrance
The Shrine Stories podcast takes you on a deep dive behind the objects on our gallery floor. Just before Anzac Day in 1971, Melburnians woke to the news that the Shrine had been graffitied. Officials were understandably furious, but the identities of those involved remained a mystery. Shrine curator Kate Spinks-Colas joins us on this episode to unpack what happened, and why. Music: Across the Line - Lone Canyon Image: Reproduced courtesy State Library Victoria
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Trailer: Shrine of Remembrance podcast
Shrine of Remembrance
Whether you're a history lover or someone looking to learn more about Australia's wartime history, this podcast is for you.
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Toys, Tales, Tenacity: Bep-Rie Gomperts
Shrine of Remembrance
Bep-Rie Gomperts was two years old when the war started in the Netherlands. It soon became clear that she and her family needed to go into hiding for their safety. Bep spent the next several years moving from family to family and was seperated from her mother just shy of her sixth birthday. Listen as Bep recalls her childhood with several different families and what life was like amid the uncertainty. Music: If I Were You, Alsever Lake
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Toys, Tales, Tenacity: Silke Hesse
Shrine of Remembrance
Silke Hesse was among more than 12,000 people who, at the peak of Second World War, were held in internment camps across Australia. She was almost six years old when she first stepped foot in Tatura internment camp. Listen as she shares her story experiences of internment. Music: If I Were You, Alsever Lake
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Shrine Stories: The Poster
Shrine of Remembrance
The Shrine Stories podcast takes you on a deep dive behind the objects on our gallery floor. In this episode, we explore a poster on display in the Vietnam War section of our Galleries. The poster was originally made and distributed in the United States as a protest piece. However, the one hanging at the Shrine has been re-designed and adopts a whole different meaning despite its similarities to the original. Join the Shrine's Collections coordinator Toby Miller as he unpacks this story. Music: Across the Line - Lone Canyon
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Toys, Tales, Tenacity: Garry Fabian
Shrine of Remembrance
Garry Fabian was just eight years old when he and his parents were interned at Theresienstadt - a ghetto, concentration camp and transit camp used by Nazi Germany to house Jews from across Eastern Europe. Of the 15,000 children who went through the camp, only 150 survived. Listen as Garry shares his story and reflections on his childhood. Music: If I Were You, Alsever Lake
info_outlineThe Shrine of Remembrance acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we honour Australian service men and women, and we pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.
Please note that the audio does contain some sound effects of war, protest and discussion around suicide.
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In this podcast, an interview with independent historian Dr. Peter Yule about ‘The Long Shadow: Australia's Vietnam Veterans Since the War’, a book that explores the medical, psychological and health legacies of the Vietnam War on Australia’s veteran community. Vietnam veterans are still our biggest, recognisable veteran cohort, also regarded as today’s ‘keepers of ANZAC’.
Peter Yule is a research fellow in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. He is interviewed by Megan Spencer, a broadcaster and podcast producer with a particular interest in remembrance and the impact of military service.
At almost 700 pages, ‘The Long Shadow’ is a broad, detailed and compelling study of the specific and unique experiences faced by Vietnam veterans involved in Australia’s most socially and politically divisive overseas war to date - and its very human cost.
In researching and writing the book, Peter says that the only stipulation given to him editorially “was to make sure the voice of the veterans was heard”. It includes powerful insights from Vietnam veterans, their family members, medical experts, veteran advocates and others. As one reviewer wrote, ‘The Long Shadow’ addresses “deficiencies of past studies’ failure to engage with the lived experience of veterans”.
‘The Long Shadow’ was commissioned by the Australian War Memorial and is published by New South Publishing. It was published on the 1st of November, 2020.
Megan interviewed Peter just after it’s publication, in early December 2020.
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Credits
Speaker: Peter Yule
Interviewer/Producer/Sound: Megan Spencer.
Archival sounds:
‘Action in Vietnam 1966’. Audio supplied by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Film Australia Collection.
‘Or Forever Hold Your Peace’ (1970). Audio supplied by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Australian Screen Collection and used with kind permission from Richard Brennan.
'Christmas messages 1968, Victorian version DPR/TV/Soldiers greetings from Vietnam'. Australian War Memorial Collection, Accession No. F04694. Item copyright held by the Australian War Memorial ©, licensed under Creative Commons and used with kind permission.
Special thanks to:
Dr. Peter Yule for his time and for the generous interview.
Thank you:
Greta Wass (AWM)
Naomi Wanner (NFSA)
Richard Brennan (Or Forever Hold Your Peace)
Jez Conlon (Ho Chi Minh City sounds)
Kris Keogh
Dr. Karl James
Michael Kelly
Anne Yule
Oliver Budack
A commemorative and educational podcast made for the Shrine of Remembrance.
This interview is dedicated to Australia’s Vietnam veterans and their families.
More about Dr. Peter Yule https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/10843-peter-yule
More about New South Publishing http://www.newsouthpublishing.com/articles/long-shadow/
More about Tom Frame and his work on moral injury https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/unsw-canberra-shines-light-moral-injury
More about Megan Spencer https://www.themeganspencer.com/
Disclaimer
The speakers’ view are their own and while all reasonable attempts are made to avoid inaccuracy, interviews should not necessarily be understood as statements of fact or opinions endorsed by the Shrine of Remembrance.
If this interview raises any issues for you, please contact:
Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14
Open Arms (formerly VVCS) - Veterans & Families Counselling on 1800 011 046 website https://www.openarms.gov.au/
ADF Mental Health All-hours Support Line on 1800 628 036
Interview duration: 52:39
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