Talks And Lectures

Lust, Love, Loss: Conversations is a three-part series produced by renowned broadcaster Megan Spencer that delves deep into three stories of Australian wartime relationships. For Tanja and Mark Johnston, what started as a chance meeting on the stoop of a share house in Toowoomba evolved into a relationship filled with letter writing, 90s mix tapes and good dose of humour. The couple combined Tanja’s love of art and Mark’s experience in the Army to co-create ANVAM – the Australian National Veterans Art Museum – which helps promote veteran wellbeing though art programs. This episode of Lust, Love, Loss follows their story from the stoop to the studio, and what it was like founding this cherished veteran’s organisation together.  Credits This podcast has been produced for the Shrine of Remembrance to accompany the Lust, Love, Loss exhibition (1 December 2021 – 1 November 2022). Speakers: Tanja Johnston, Mark Johnston. Letters: read by Tanja and Mark Johnston Interviewer/Producer/Sound: Megan Spencer Archival sou

Lust, Love, Loss: Conversations is a three-part series produced by renowned broadcaster Megan Spencer that delves deep into stories of Australian wartime relationships. Justin and Kendal Brown’s story began when they were just teens in the remote defence town of Woomera, but it wasn’t until years later that they became a couple. In this episode, Megan Spencer dissects Justin’s vow not to get married until he was discharged, what it was like for them both having two children while Kendal was still serving and how being in the military has shaped their relationship.

Meet our formidable team of Life Governors as they discuss their time in the defence forces and how they came to serve and support the Shrine of Remembrance. Interviewer: Mr Ray Andrews Shrine Life Governors: Colonel George Mackenzie OBE RFD, Lieutenant Colonel David Ford CVO AM GM, Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Lombardo and Mr Peter Whitelaw Videographer: Mr Keith Webb

Vera Deakin, a 23 year old woman from Melbourne and youngest daughter of Australia's second Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, travelled to Cairo to establish the Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau. Her work brought comfort and answers to grieving families across Australia. The legacies of her work endure to this day. Join author and historian Carole Woods OAM in conversation with Leigh Gilburt, Production Coordinator at the Shrine, as they discuss Vera's remarkable contribution to the First World War. Vera Deakin and the Red Cross is available for purchase through the Shrine shop.

Michael Madden provides a snapshot of his remarkable journey travelling across Australia and around the world to photograph 100 Australian Victoria Cross medals. Invited to Windsor Castle, he was the first Australian to see and hold the metal from which the Victoria Cross medals are created. The Victoria Cross: Australia Remembers is available online through the Shrine Shop. Please note, there were some technical difficulties experienced whilst filming this talk.

The 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. -- 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 L

Presented by Dr Madonna Grehan While the exact numbers are unclear, it’s estimated that around 5000 nurses served in the military during the Second World War in a range of locations throughout the world. In this International Women’s Day Address for the Shrine of Remembrance, Madonna Grehan considers the state of nursing in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Drawing on biographies of Second World War nurses, Dr Grehan will discuss how nurses’ work, and their profession, had changed dramatically since the First World War.  Dean Bowen's Imagining Centaur is on display daily until 2022.

Artist Dean Bowen reveals the inspiration behind his beautiful and haunting Centaur series. Dean Bowen's Imagining Centaur is open now and can be viewed in the Shrine Galleries daily. Interviewer: Neil Sharkey, Shrine Curator  

Join Shrine Curator Neil Sharkey as he guides you through our special exhibition Dean Bowen's Imagining Centaur.  Imagining Centaur can be viewed at the Shrine between 10am and 5pm daily.

The Shrine’s newest exhibition, Dean Bowen’s Imagining Centaur, centres on a series of beautiful, thought-provoking works of art created in response to the tragic sinking of the 2/3 Australian Hospital Ship Centaur on 14 May 1943. Join the exhibition’s co-curators, Dr Madonna Grehan and Neil Sharkey, in conversation as they discuss the historical significance of Centaur’s sinking and their role in bringing this unique exhibition to life.

Recorded 11 November 2020 Master of Ceremonies: Mr Peter Meehan OAM Veteran Ode readers: LCDR Jan Gallagher, CAPT Don Bergman OAM RFD ED (Retd), SQDLRD Harold Cheung and James 'Jim' Paizis In Flanders Fields reciter: Ms Liana Henderson-Drife Remembrance Day Address: Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau Choir: Exaudi Youth Choir Musical Support: LS Tracy Kennedy and the RAN Band Brass Quintet Bugler: AB Luke Glasson  Watch the full service.

Sub Lieutenant Jim Paizis shares his memories of life in the close confines of the navy, post-war visits to his ship’s namesake and the changing skyline of Melbourne. This interview was recorded as part of the National Trust, Open House Melbourne and Centre for Architecture Victoria's World War II at Home digital project. Watch the video interview. Interviewer: Megan Spencer Recorded by Podbooth

Interviewee: Aunty Glenda Humes, daughter of Captain Reginald Saunders MBE Interviewer: Megan Spencer Recorded by Podbooth This interview was recorded as part of the National Trust, Open House Melbourne and Centre for Architecture Victoria's World War II at Home project, funded by the Victorian Government. Check out the video of this interview at: https://wwiiathome.com.au/

Leading Aircraftman Mac Ford shares his memories of 1940s Melbourne, the repatriation of Australian prisoners of war from Singapore in 1945 and his introduction to computers. Interview by Megan Spencer.  This interview was recorded as part of the National Trust, Open House Melbourne and Centre for Architecture Victoria's World War II at Home project, funded by the Victorian Government.  World War II at Home explores the transformative experience of the Second World War on Victoria. Check out the website for the video of this interview, more veteran stories and 18 Victorian sites of significance from the Second World War. https://wwiiathome.com.au/

Dr Bronwyn Hughes OAM explores the motives for commemoration and how this has influenced the design of memorials. Recorded 9 November 2016.

Ian McDougall, founding director of ARM Architecture, reveals the inspiration behind many of the Shrine's unique architectural features. Recorded 31 July 2016.

Join Dr Gillian Shepherd to delve into the Ancient Greek origins of our modern day commemorations and the design of the Shrine.   Recorded 7 September 2017.

Join historian Professor Peter Monteath and broadcaster Megan Spencer (creator of the podcast 'From A Whisper to a Bang!')for an insightful conversation about the Battle of 42nd Street in Crete, 1941. This episode was recorded as video which is available on YouTube and Facebook. Peter's book, 'Battle on 42nd Street' is available for purchase through the Shrine shop.

This Anzac eve, we are joined by veteran Justin Scott as he shares his memories of service and commemoration. 

Recorded for the 75th anniversary of the Seige of Toburk, Heather MacFarlane, daughter of Alfred Macfarlane of the 2/4th Australian General Hospital, was joined by three Rats of Tobruk, Jack Caple, Ron Williamson and Bob Semple. They reflect on their battle experiences, living conditions and the camaraderie shared by the Rats during the long siege of 1941.