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/

Just after 0400 hours on 14 May 1943, the 2/3 Australian Hospital Ship Centaur, sailing off the coast of Brisbane, was torpedoed by Japanese submarine 1-177. Centaur sank within three minutes. Hundred of personnel were trapped inside.

In these historical interviews, survivors of the sinking recount their memories of the night and ensuing 35 hour wait for rescue.

00.00–07.22 Sister Ellen Savage GM

07.23–10.03 Chief Pantryman Ronal Moate

10.04–14.36 Engineer Steward Alec Cochrane

14.37–18:02 Frank Reid

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.

It was our privilege to sit down with Sean Burton for the final instalment of our 'Meet the Artist' series.

Sean, a veteran of the British and Australian defence forces, reflects on his own journey of healing post-service and the incredible story behind the evolution of his artwork 'Babs'.

Sean's works of art will feature in 'Between Two Worlds' alongside works by Ben Pullin and Rory Cushnahan.

In the second instalment of our 'Meet the Artist' series meet Ben Pullin. Ben, a veteran of Rwanda and East Timor, reflects on his distinct styles of sculpture and painting.

Between Two Worlds features the work of three contemporary artists and veterans: Ben Pullin, Rory Cushnahan and Sean Burton.

Join artist and veteran Rory Cushnahan as he discusses his work, 'War is Home...Home is Hell' and the influences and techniques that define his style.

Rory is one of the featured artist in our special exhibition Between Two Worlds.

At the Shrine, we embrace the diversity of our community and acknowledge 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.

In this video from our archives, Aunty Dot (1930–2019), a Yarra Yarra Elder, reflects on her father's military service and her inspiration for initiating the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service now held annually on 31 May at the Shrine.

Join our live-stream at 11am on Facebook tomorrow (Sunday 31 May) as the Shrine Guard lay a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance in honour of all Aboriginal Victorian service men and women who have served Australia in all wars and peace keeping missions.

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.

Writer Mike Rosel speaks about his about his newly published book A Rat of Tobruk: A Digger’s Lost Images of the Siege and rediscovering his father's extraordinary photographs of the siege.

A Rat of Tobruk is available through the Shrine shop.

Videography by Neil Creek.

This episode was supported by the Victorian Government.

Recorded on 25 April 2020 at the Shrine of Remembrance 

Due to corona virus (Covid-19) restrictions, some elements of the Dawn Service were prerecorded.

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.

Over the course of 1915, most of the 50,000 Australian personnel who served at Gallipoli passed through the island of Lemnos. Centring his attention on the Australian experience of the island, historian Jim Claven shares unique and humanising insights into the Gallipoli campaign.

Lemnos and Gallipoli Revealed is available through the Shrine shop.

In the world today we as a community face an exceptional time of challenge and uncertainty. Over the comping weeks the Shrine will be supplementing our usual podcast programming with additional stories from our archives. These are stories of courage, kindness and resilience in the face of adversity.

Today's episode features the 2018 Anzac Day Dawn Service address presented by Group Captain Annette Holian. Annette is an orthopaedic surgeon and Clinical Director Surgery and Peri-operative services in the Royal Australian Air Force and has a long career of providing humanitarian aid.

Shrine Trustee Tracey Curro chairs a tri-service panel of veterans discussing their experiences of the modern Australian Defence Forces. Panel features Lieutenant Commander Helen Ward RAN, Bruna Norrish and Flight Lieutenant Kelli Mitchener.

Professor Geoffrey Quail discusses the near-devastating effect of malaria on the Australian troops in New Guinea during the Second World War.

Join Shrine Curator Kate Spinks for a our of our special exhibition Through the Eyes of the Son: A John Williams Retrospective (1933–2016).

Through the Eyes of the Son in on display daily in the Shrine Galleries from 10am with last entry at 4.30pm until September 2020.

This video can also be viewed on our website.