The Long Shadow: An Interview with Peter Yule

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 Long Shadow’ is a broad, detailed and compelling study of the specific and unique experiences faced by Vietnam veterans involved in Australia’s most socially and politically divisive overseas war to date - and its very human cost.

In researching and writing the book, Peter says that the only stipulation given to him editorially “was to make sure the voice of the veterans was heard”. It includes powerful insights from Vietnam veterans, their family members, medical experts, veteran advocates and others. As one reviewer wrote, ‘The Long Shadow’ addresses “deficiencies of past studies’ failure to engage with the lived experience of veterans”.

‘The Long Shadow’ was commissioned by the Australian War Memorial and is published by New South Publishing. It was published on the 1st of November, 2020.

Megan interviewed Peter just after it’s publication, in early December 2020.

 

--

 

Credits

 

Speaker: Peter Yule

Interviewer/Producer/Sound: Megan Spencer.

 

 Archival sounds:

‘Action in Vietnam 1966’. Audio supplied by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Film Australia Collection.

 

‘Or Forever Hold Your Peace’ (1970). Audio supplied by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Australian Screen Collection and used with kind permission from Richard Brennan.

 

'Christmas messages 1968, Victorian version DPR/TV/Soldiers greetings from Vietnam'. Australian War Memorial Collection, Accession No. F04694. Item copyright held by the Australian War Memorial ©, licensed under Creative Commons and used with kind permission.

 

Special thanks to:

Dr. Peter Yule for his time and for the generous interview.

 

Thank you:

Greta Wass (AWM)

Naomi Wanner (NFSA)

Richard Brennan (Or Forever Hold Your Peace)

Jez Conlon (Ho Chi Minh City sounds)

Kris Keogh

Dr. Karl James

Michael Kelly

Anne Yule

Oliver Budack

 

A commemorative and educational podcast made for the Shrine of Remembrance.

This interview is dedicated to Australia’s Vietnam veterans and their families.

 

More about Dr. Peter Yule https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/10843-peter-yule

 

More about New South Publishing http://www.newsouthpublishing.com/articles/long-shadow/

 

More about Tom Frame and his work on moral injury https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/unsw-canberra-shines-light-moral-injury

 

More about Megan Spencer https://www.themeganspencer.com/

 

 

 

Disclaimer

The speakers’ view are their own and while all reasonable attempts are made to avoid inaccuracy, interviews should not necessarily be understood as statements of fact or opinions endorsed by the Shrine of Remembrance.

 

If this interview raises any issues for you, please contact:

Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14

Open Arms (formerly VVCS) - Veterans & Families Counselling on 1800 011 046 website https://www.openarms.gov.au/

ADF Mental Health All-hours Support Line on 1800 628 036

 

Interview duration: 52:39

 

© 2021 All Rights Reserved.