Historical information

Programme of the 9th Australian Division Gymkhana held 19th and 20th January 1945 at Herberton Racecourse, Atherton Tableland, Queensland. The event featured a wide array of sporting, military, and horse racing events to boost morale and physical readiness.
The carnival was a massive logistical gathering for the "Magnificent 9th" prior to their final amphibious deployments to Borneo. The Australian War Memorial maintains historical film coverage of this specific event.
Item belonged to Robert Francis ISKOV VX15237 served with the 59th Battalion/Hume Regiment CMF before joining the 2/14th Battalion at Caulfield in September 1940. He disembarked for the Middle East in November, 1940 and fought in the Syrian campaign in 1941. In 1942 the 2/14th Battalion returned to Australia and sent to Papua where he fought at the Battle of Isurava before the battalion was sent to Gona. In 1943 Bob returned to Australia to undertake officer training and in 1945 with the 2/23rd Battalion sailed to Morotai and served with the battalion on Tarakan. He returned to Australia in November, 1945 and discharged a month later

Physical description

Large beige coloured paper folded in half to form four pages with black image of a platypus and lettering on cover

Inscriptions & markings

19th and 20th January 1945