World War II veteran, Bruce Robertson.
The experiences of World War II veterans have been documented in a new podcast being launched by aged care provider, Uniting, for Remembrance Day on November 11.
Launching on the 75th anniversary of Remembrance Day, the podcast series, My Life at War, reveals the experiences of Australians in WWII, told through the eyes of veterans receiving aged care from Uniting in NSW and the ACT.
Stories include the signals operator who first heard Japanese midget submarines off Sydney, the 15-year-old who falsified his age to get into the Air Force, Australia’s first Indigenous Air Force pilot and the female veterans who faced discrimination on ANZAC Day immediately after the war.
Uniting NSW.ACT Executive Director, Tracey Burton said the podcast is a timely reminder of the important contribution older Australians have made, and continue to make.
“In a year when our elders are enduring a pandemic, it’s more important than ever to remember how incredibly valuable they are to our community,” she said.
“We need to listen to these stories and remind ourselves about the sacrifices they have made and how they helped build and enrich our country.”
The series follows the veterans from the time the war was declared, through conflicts abroad and on our shores and life after the guns fell silent.
The podcast was produced by two Uniting staff members, Lee Taylor and Jefferson Spratt, who conducted the interviews and host the series.
It was produced over 11 months with Kellie Riordan from Deadset Studios in collaboration with audio sound designer Bryce Halliday and historian David Wilson.
Extra funding came from the Saluting Their Service – Commemorative Grant and the Australian Department of Veteran Affairs.
The podcast can be found at Uniting.org/veterans or all major podcasting apps.
