Discover the unlikely, and at times almost unbelievable story behind a horse saddle on display in the Shrine's Galleries of Remembrance. Former Warrant Officer Leon Dimmack joins us to uncover the tale and how the saddle went from almost being thrown in the trash to an invaluable treasure.
Uncover the world of camouflage with author and academic Professor Ann Elias. Explore the artists, creatives, and naturalists who shaped camouflage techniques during conflict, the challenges they faced, and how their creative contributions influenced the Australian military. From face paint to full scale deception, you’ll discover there’s more to camouflage than meets they eye.
These detailed, intricate shoes may look beautiful, but they have a horrific history. In this episode of Shrine Stories, join Exhibitions Coordinator Katrina Nicolson as she uncovers the story behind a pair of Lotus shoes on display in our galleries, and their unlikely link to stories of service. WARNING: This episode contains themes that may be distressing for some audience. Listener discretion is advised.
If you've been to a service at the Shrine, you will have seen our Shrine Guard dressed in their distinct uniform. And this year marks 90 years of their service to the Shrine. In this episode you'll uncover how the Shrine Guard were formed, what their role looks like today, and importantly, how long it takes to shine their shoes with Senior Protective Services Officer David Rose'Meyer.
The saying goes, ‘an army marches on its stomach’, but in theory what does this actually look like? How is food prepared in a makeshift kitchen during deployment? Who coordinates getting fresh food to these kitchens? And how are military chefs trained to withstand such a high-pressure environment in the face of conflict? Discover all this and more with Major Ruth Hayes OAM and Captain Brett Williams (Retd), who between them, have decades of experiences in the world of military catering....
Ration packs are perhaps one of first things that spring to mind when we think of food in the military. But have you ever stopped to consider how they're developed? From their weight to their ability to be dropped from high altitutudes and withstand boiling and freezing climates, the science behind ration packs is incredibly complex. Ross Coad spent more than three decades working at the Defence Science and Technology Group in Scottsdale, Tasmania. This involved research on food packaging, food ...
What did you have for dinner last night? Imagine if we took your dinner plans, put it 100 metres below sea level, multiplied the mouths to feed to about 60 and took out any fresh fruit or vegetables. This was a daily reality for Commander John Goss during his career as a cook in the Navy. John’s story is one of many shared in the Shrine’s special exhibition Taste of Combat: The Evolution of Military Food, which uncovers often-invisible service of catering for the military and the challenges, res...
Images of the Shrine of Remembrance today are abundant, but depictions of its construction are rare treasures. In this episode of Shrine Stories, Collections Coordinator Toby Miller delves into Alexander Colquhoun’s painting of the Shrine being built, uncovering its artistic significance and the personal grief woven into its story.
Have you ever wondered how mail was received by soldiers on the front line? In this festive edition of Shrine Stories, Exhibitions Coordinator Katrina Nicolson uncovers a unique Christmas message and unpacks just how complex it was to coordinate wartime post.
In this episode, we delve into the fascinating history of the Shrine's Ray of Light. This feature was meticulously calculated so at 11am on November 11, a beam of sunlight would shine through a hole in the Shrine's roof and illuminate the word 'love' etched into the Stone of Remembrance. However, the introduction of daylight savings in 1971 threw a spanner in the works, causing the light to hit the stone an hour late. Join us as we explore how Frank Johnston, a surveyor and RMIT lecturer, worked...
Uncover a story of determination and ingenuity as Shrine curator Neil Sharkey reveals the story behind these aluminium false teeth. With links to Ambon, this item tells an important story about the conditions that prisoners of war endured and the struggle to survive.
At the height of the Holocaust, twenty-five young inmates of the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp - mainly Jewish women and girls - were selected to design, cut, and sew beautiful fashions for elite Nazi women in a dedicated salon. It was work that they hoped would spare them from the gas chambers. Drawing on diverse sources including interviews with the last surviving seamstress, The Dressmakers of Auschwitz follows the fates of these brave women. In this captivating podcast recor...
In this episode of Shrine Stories, we uncover the story behind a toy rabbit on display in the galleries. Listen as Shrine Education Officer Peter Luby uncovers its link to the fall of Singapore and the mystery behind its owner. Music On this Day - Richard Smithson
A century ago, a public design competition resulted in the grand architecture of the Shrine of Remembrance. For 90 years it has stood as an iconic sentinal in Melbourne's architecture, so it's hard to imagine anything else in its place... In this series, you'll uncover the designs that could have been Victoria's War Memorial and the architects behind them. In this episode, Dr Katti Williams shares the story of the architects behind the Shrine, Philip Hudson and James Wardrop, and how their milit...
A century ago, a public design competition resulted in the grand architecture of the Shrine of Remembrance. For 90 years it has stood as an iconic sentinal in Melbourne's architecture, so it's hard to imagine anything else in its place... In this series, you'll uncover the designs that could have been Victoria's War Memorial and the architects behind them. Listen as Dr Katti Williams unpacks the second-placed design by William Lucas, and the controversy that followed when he wasn't crowned the w...
A century ago, a public design competition resulted in the grand architecture of the Shrine of Remembrance. For 90 years it has stood as an iconic sentinal in Melbourne's architecture, so it's hard to imagine anything else in its place... In this series, you'll uncover the designs that could have been Victoria's War Memorial and the architects behind them. Listen as Professor Julie Willis explores the proposals of third-placed architect Donald Turner, and the fifth-placed design by Arthur Stephe...
Recorded live at the Shrine, listen as Dave Sabben MG unpacks his book Mentions in Despatches , which is made up of hundreds of letters that he sent home to family during his service in Vietnam. Hosted by Peter Meehan OAM, this conversation will give you an unrivalled account of what life was like for a frontline soldier in a war without front lines. To see what's on at the Shrine, head to shrine.org.au/whats-on-at-the-shrine Music: Right on Time, Adi Goldstein...
A century ago, a public design competition resulted in the grand architecture of the Shrine of Remembrance. For 90 years it has stood as an iconic sentinal in Melbourne's architecture, so it's hard to imagine anything else in its place... In this series, you'll uncover the designs that could have been Victoria's War Memorial and the architects behind them. Listen as Professor Philip Goad uncovers the plans of fourth-placed architects Roy Lippincott and Edward Billson, along with those of one of ...
Have you ever paid attention to the Shrine's roof? If not, now's your time! In this episode of Shrine Stories, you'll hear about a big change that was made to the roof in the '60s and why it was needed. Listen as the Shrine's Education and Volunteer Manager Laura Carroll uncovers a story that's been hidden in plain sight. Music On this Day - Richard Smithson
The Victoria Cross is the highest award for acts of bravery during wartime, and to date, only 101 Australians have been presented with this prestigious medal. One of them is Captain Robert Grieve, whose medal is on display in the Shrine Galleries. Join us as Philip Powell unpacks the story behind Grieve’s VC, his unlikely meeting with the Queen and how the medal survived a large fire. Music: Across the Line, Lone Canyon
Over the course of his life, Tim Fischer wore many hats: deputy Prime Minister, politician, diplomat, farmer, chairman, patron and advocate for many causes. But one that often goes under the radar is that of a Second Lieutenant in the Australian Army. In this episode, author Peter Rees unpacks Tim's military service and how it impacted his life as a politician. Music: 'I've Been There' by Alsever Lake
How does a window go from being boxed up in a shed to on display at the Shrine? In this episode of Shrine Stories, you'll learn the story of the John Charlton Memorial Window, and it's rather tumultuous journey over the last century. Listen as art historian and author Dr Bronwyn Hughes OAM unpacks the window's history, significance and journey to the Shrine. Music: Across the Line - Lone Canyon Special thanks to the generous support of The Copland Foundation towards the design and installation o...
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 ful...
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. T...
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 j...
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
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...
Whether you're a history lover or someone looking to learn more about Australia's wartime history, this podcast is for you.
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
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
