Audacity neabs extraordinary boldness or courage. This book tells the stories of just some of the Australian, men and women who have shown audacity during wartime from 1899 to today.australian soldiers, australian army, royal australian navy, royal australian air force, nurses, vietnam

EDHS Newsletter No. 270 June 2023 At our next meeting at 2.00pm on Saturday 10th June 2023 we are pleased to have Dr. Geoffrey Sandy to present to us on the WW1 Soldier Welcome Home Committees, with specific reference to Eltham. Geoffrey is an author, parish historian and parish archivist for St Margaret’s Anglican Church in Eltham. Soldier Welcome Home Committees (SWHC) were established throughout Australia during WW1 by the soldier’s local community - their home. Despite WW1 being a well-researched area of Australian history, little has been published on the SWHCs. The work of these committees is an important part of our war history, and our volunteer history. As women were often well-represented, and active within the SWHCs, it is also important to our history of Australian women. Geoff has undertaken a detailed case study of the Soldier Welcome Home Committee at Eltham (SWHCE). During the WW1 period Eltham can be described a small rural community. What is fortunate is that the Minute Books of the SWHC Eltham meetings are extant and readily accessible, as these are held in the archives of Saint Margaret’s Anglican Church Eltham.1:17:13 duration Digital MP3 file; 26.5MBaudio recording, eltham district historical society, meeting, society meeting, eltham, avenue of honour, dr geoffrey sandy, welcome home committee

The extensive formal landscaped gardens of Rockingham had been created in the 1860s, and by the 1950s remained bordered to the south by the Barkers Road cutting, and to the north by Blytheswood, the neighbouring Syme family property, By 1940, the Syme family were no longer the occupiers of Rockingham. John Herbert Syme had died in October 1939, and by August the following year, his wife had made the house and garden available, rent free to the Red Cross as a convalescent home for Australian soldiers injured in the Second World War. At the time, the house was described as containing twenty rooms, including a ballroom and a billiards room, with a garden of eight acres overlooking the Yarra. The task of renovating the house to conform to its new function as a convalescent home took a year, finally opening in August 1941. Community support for Rockingham was widespread and included the decision by the National Gallery of Victoria to loan pictures from its collection to decorate the walls. Calls were made for women around Victoria to donate fruit and vegetables from their gardens, which the railways agreed to freight for free. Other local support included the work by a team of boys to establish a three-acre vegetable garden within the formal terraced gardens. From the beginning, occupational therapy formed a key component of the rehabilitation of psychologically injured soldiers. This is confirmed by contemporary newspaper accounts of weaving, ironwork, leatherwork, basketry and gardening by patients. Numerous photographs, held by the Australian War Memorial (AWM) and the State Library of Victoria (SLV), record the importance of these rehabilitation activities. The painting of the view across the river to Abbotsford may have been painted in one of these occupational therapy sessions. For many decades it hung in the occupational therapy room. It must have been on view following the sale of Rockingham by the Syme family to the Red Cross in 1955, and subsequently, until the house was demolished and its grounds finally subdivided in 1977.View of Abbotsford from the garden of Rockingham (1952) was created by V Maloney. The vantage point of the artist was the garden of Rockingham, one of two mansions overlooking the Yarra owned by the Syme family. The artwork depicts a number of sites - especially factories - that have since been demolished.Signed by the artist, lower right "V Maloney"rockingham red cross convalescent home, hospitals - kew (vic), rosemary lade, art therapy

Postcard from WWI soldier William West (1268) of the 29 Infantry Battalion, 5th Pioneers Battalion while posted in France to his family at home, 1917. Mentioned in postcard George Buse 2208 born Yarraville who enlisted on 10/9/1914 aged 21 years 3 months. He embarked on 20/10/1914 and returned to Australia in 1919. He was a Driver with the 10th ASC,Embroidered silk postcards were first made in 1900 for the Paris Exposition. The popularity of silk postcards peaked during the First World War 1914 - 1918.They were mostly embroidered by French women in their homes and then sent to the factories for cutting and mounting on cards. Many of the cards were illustrated with patriotic symbols, flags, slogans, or sentimental texts. During the First World War, many Allied officers and soldiers based in France sent silk embroidered postcards to their loved ones back homeWhite rectangular postcard with embroidered pink flowers, green foliate and blue winged butterfly decoration on front. Handwritten message on the back.Front: "To my dear Wife" (embroidered) Back: "To Enid from dad xx / xxxxxx / France / Feb 26/2/1917 / My Dear Alice / Just a PC to let you I'm still well and hope are all the same I have not see Joe lately I may see him sometime or the other I hope you enjoyed yourself on your holidays they will do you good. I'm in a rest station I have not been too well I think I will be back with the battalion in a few days you can tell ??[ma]?? I met Pugger Loney he is in the 15 ambulance he looks well and it just as fat as ever I'm goin gover to see youn George Buse tomorrow well I have not much new to tell only all is well so I will now close with best love from loving husband Will xxxxxxxx"wwi, postcard, embroidered postcard, william west 1268, george buse 2208

An excellent example of Australian First World War recruiting posters aimed at women, rather than potential soldiers. The poster suggests that in helping defeat Germany, women were really defending themselves.During the First World War, governments needed to convince their citizens to contribute to the war effort. In the absence of radio and film, the poster was the most effective method of mass communicationDepicts a woman with arms raised, her clothing torn and right breast exposed. Two children lie dead on the round at her feet, while the town behind her burns. Full poster text: 'Women of Queensland! Remember how women and children of France and Belgium were treated. Do you realise that your treatment would be worse? Send a man today to fight for you'poster, ww1, women of queensland

Postcard from WWI soldier William West (1268) of the 29 Infantry Battalion, 5th Pioneers Battalion while posted in France to his family at home.Embroidered silk postcards were first made in 1900 for the Paris Exposition. The popularity of silk postcards peaked during the First World War 1914 - 1918.They were mostly embroidered by French women in their homes and then sent to the factories for cutting and mounting on cards. Many of the cards were illustrated with patriotic symbols, flags, slogans, or sentimental texts. During the First World War, many Allied officers and soldiers based in France sent silk embroidered postcards to their loved ones back homeWhite rectangular postcard with embroidered yellow, orange, red, white rising sun badge, green banner and english maritime flags.Front: "AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH" "Australian Commonwealth Military Forces" (embroidered) Back: "To Alice best of love from loving husband Will xxxxxxx write soon"wwi, postcard, embroidered postcard, carte postale

The badges were first issued in 1940 to the nearest female relative of a soldier on Active Service. Each star on the bar represents one person. This badge was issued to Billy Birds Mother. William (Billy) Bird No VX113169 2/14 Batt AIF. Refer 1601. William Bird was born on the 15th of April 1924, enlisted in the AIF on the 19th of October 1942 when he was 18 years of age. He was discharged from the 2/14 Australian Infantry Battalion on the 21st of August 1946. Female Relative Badge. The Badge has a Map of Australia in the centre surrounded by two sets of laurel leaves.It is topped by a Crown. The Bar is suspended beneath the medallion by rings with one five pointed star on the bar."To the Women of Australia" The rear of the Badge has "Issued By Commonwealth of Australia A182120" numismatics-badges, female relative

Letter of Appreciation given to Servicemen and Women in recognition of their service to the country. This certificate unlikely to have been issued as name not complete and not dated. Soldier named is Arthur Garfield Genders V78542Certificate of Appreciation from Marong Shire. On yellow cardboard with blue and red flag emblems of Britain and Australia at top. Formal council stamp and signatures of President, Councillor & Shire Secretary. Writing in gold and surrounded by stylised brown, red and green board. Name of person presented to outlined but not completed. Date also not filled in.Name only partially done "ARTHUR G. GENDERS Signed by President, Councillor and Shire President with Red official Council stamp.shire of marong, certificate of appreciation, ww2

Illustrated book with light brown cover. Front cover has a black and white photograph of a nurse with a group of soldiers ( S.Avenell with amputees at Southall Hospital) Abbreviated title is printed above, and the authors name below this photograph in black ink. This is surround by a decorative border in black ink: two narrow lines and leaves at the corners. Abbreviated title and author's name also printed in black ink on spine. The back cover has a small black and white photo of a group of nurses (S.Olive Saloway with other nurses on board Orsovanon-fictionPersonal accounts of Australian Nurses abroad in World War 1world war 1914-1918 - medical care, military nursing-australia, australia-army-nurses, nurses

Illustrated book. The front cover and spine have the same black and white photograph of six men walking ("the guards were old, the soldiers young. Bertie Giles is third from left) Front cover has full title in red and black print, authors name in white print. Spine has abbreviated title in red print, authors name in black and white print and publishers name in black print. Back cover has a black and white photograph of a group of women (Australian nurses, (civilian and army) after being held POW for almost three and a half years by the Japanese). Under this photograph is a summary of the book and information about the author.non-fictionThis book has not been written for ex-prisoners: they know the homesickness of exile, the tyranny of bondage; it was written for those people of today who know little of the experiences of these men and women, of their courage, endurance and pain. It has been written for the generations to come.prisoners of war-australia, world war 1914-1918-prisoners and prisons, world war 1939-1945-prisoners and prisons, korean war 1950-1953 - prisoners and prisons