We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land.
We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons.
Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written
or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Collection of photographs which were the property of Ronald Keith Churches, service number VX34599, who was a Sergeant in the Australian Army 2/9th Field Ambulance Unit during World War 2. Churches enlisted on the 12th July, 1940 and was discharged on the 4th December, 1945. The 2/9th FA was formed on the 1st July, 1940 at Dandenong, Victoria and was initially based at Seymour (Puckapunyal). The 2/9th FA relocated to Bonegilla in September 1940 and embarked for Singapore in February, 1941. The men of the unit were taken prisoner by the Japanese in February, 1942. Churches spent the remainder of World War 2 as a POW in Changi Prison.
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands
where we live, learn and work.