Shrine of Remembrance

Shrine of Remembrance

The Shrine of Remembrance is Victoria's national memorial honouring the service and sacrifice of Australians in war and peacekeeping. In this podcast series, we go beyond the Shrine’s gallery floor with in-depth conversations about war, peace and everything in between. Listen as academics, historians, authors, veterans and other experts recount real-life stories of Australian military history. For information on events and talks held at the Shrine, go to shrine.org.au.

Episodes

August 17, 2025 14 mins

Renowned for his bright, whimsical style, artist Dean Bowen is best known for works that bring joy to audiences. But in this episode, we explore a surprising shift. Inside the Shrine’s Galleries hangs Night Flyers, a powerful departure from Bowen’s usual tone. Join us as Dean shares the story behind this work and why he felt compelled to create it.

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Nestled in the quiet hills of Yokohama lies a place few Australians know about, yet its story binds us to an important chapter of our past.Yokohama War Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 1,500 Commonwealth service personnel who lost their lives during the Second World War.  

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July 26, 2025 20 mins

You've probably heard of the Lone Pine Tree. It's one of the most iconic symbols in the world of military botanicals. But how much do you know about its origins? And how can you tell if a Lone Pine is actually the real deal?

In this episode, we're diving deep into the roots (pun intended!) of this living memorial with Shrine volunteer Mary Ward.

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May 11, 2025 21 mins

Discover the unlikely, and at times almost unbelievable story behind a horse saddle on display in the Shrine's Galleries of Remembrance. Former Warrant Officer Leon Dimmack joins us to uncover the tale and how the saddle went from almost being thrown in the trash to an invaluable treasure. 

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Uncover the world of camouflage with author and academic Professor Ann Elias. Explore the artists, creatives, and naturalists who shaped camouflage techniques during conflict, the challenges they faced, and how their creative contributions influenced the Australian military.

From face paint to full scale deception, you’ll discover there’s more to ...

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April 13, 2025 16 mins

These detailed, intricate shoes may look beautiful, but they have a horrific history. 

In this episode of Shrine Stories, join Exhibitions Coordinator Katrina Nicolson as she uncovers the story behind a pair of Lotus shoes on display in our galleries, and their unlikely link to stories of service. 

WARNING: This episode contains themes that may be distressing for some audience. Listener discretion is advised. 

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March 9, 2025 13 mins

If you've been to a service at the Shrine, you will have seen our Shrine Guard dressed in their distinct uniform. And this year marks 90 years of their service to the Shrine. 

In this episode you'll uncover how the Shrine Guard were formed, what their role looks like today, and importantly, how long it takes to shine their shoes with Senior Protective Services Officer David Rose'Meyer. 

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The saying goes, ‘an army marches on its stomach’, but in theory what does this actually look like? How is food prepared in a makeshift kitchen during deployment? Who coordinates getting fresh food to these kitchens? And how are military chefs trained to withstand such a high-pressure environment in the face of conflict?

Discover all this and more with Major Ruth Hayes OAM and Captain Brett...

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January 26, 2025 37 mins

Ration packs are perhaps one of first things that spring to mind when we think of food in the military. But have you ever stopped to consider how they're developed? From their weight to their ability to be dropped from high altitutudes and withstand boiling and freezing climates, the science behind ration packs is incredibly complex.

Ross Coad spent more than three decades working at the Defence Science and Tec...

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January 19, 2025 34 mins

What did you have for dinner last night? Imagine if we took your dinner plans, put it 100 metres below sea level, multiplied the mouths to feed to about 60 and took out any fresh fruit or vegetables. This was a daily reality for Commander John Goss during his career as a cook in the Navy.

John’s story is one of many shared in the Shrine’s special exhibition Taste of Combat: The Evolution of...

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January 12, 2025 15 mins

Images of the Shrine of Remembrance today are abundant, but depictions of its construction are rare treasures.

In this episode of Shrine Stories, Collections Coordinator Toby Miller delves into Alexander Colquhoun’s painting of the Shrine being built, uncovering its artistic significance and the personal grief woven into its story.

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December 15, 2024 16 mins

Have you ever wondered how mail was received by soldiers on the front line? In this festive edition of Shrine Stories, Exhibitions Coordinator Katrina Nicolson uncovers a unique Christmas message and unpacks just how complex it was to coordinate wartime post. 

 

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November 3, 2024 16 mins

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating history of the Shrine's Ray of Light. This feature was meticulously calculated so at 11am on November 11, a beam of sunlight would shine through a hole in the Shrine's roof and illuminate the word 'love' etched into the Stone of Remembrance. However, the introduction of daylight savings in 1971 threw a spanner in the works, causing the light to hit the stone an hour late.

Join us as we...

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October 13, 2024 17 mins

Uncover a story of determination and ingenuity as Shrine curator Neil Sharkey reveals the story behind these aluminium false teeth. With links to Ambon, this item tells an important story about the conditions that prisoners of war endured and the struggle to survive. 

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At the height of the Holocaust, twenty-five young inmates of the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp - mainly Jewish women and girls - were selected to design, cut, and sew beautiful fashions for elite Nazi women in a dedicated salon. It was work that they hoped would spare them from the gas chambers. Drawing on diverse sources including interviews with the last surviving seamstress, The Dressmakers of Auschwitz follows ...

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September 10, 2024 21 mins

In this episode of Shrine Stories, we uncover the story behind a toy rabbit on display in the galleries. 

Listen as Shrine Education Officer Peter Luby uncovers its link to the fall of Singapore and the mystery behind its owner. 

Music

On this Day - Richard Smithson 

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September 1, 2024 18 mins

A century ago, a public design competition resulted in the grand architecture of the Shrine of Remembrance. For 90 years it has stood as an iconic sentinal in Melbourne's architecture, so it's hard to imagine anything else in its place...

In this series, you'll uncover the designs that could have been Victoria's War Memorial and the architects behind them. 

In this episode, Dr Katti Williams shares the story of the architects behin...

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August 25, 2024 26 mins

A century ago, a public design competition resulted in the grand architecture of the Shrine of Remembrance. For 90 years it has stood as an iconic sentinal in Melbourne's architecture, so it's hard to imagine anything else in its place...

In this series, you'll uncover the designs that could have been Victoria's War Memorial and the architects behind them. 

Listen as Dr Katti Williams unpacks the second-placed design by William Luc...

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A century ago, a public design competition resulted in the grand architecture of the Shrine of Remembrance. For 90 years it has stood as an iconic sentinal in Melbourne's architecture, so it's hard to imagine anything else in its place...

In this series, you'll uncover the designs that could have been Victoria's War Memorial and the architects behind them. 

Listen as Professor Julie Willis explores the proposals of third-placed arc...

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Recorded live at the Shrine, listen as Dave Sabben MG unpacks his book Mentions in Despatches, which is made up of hundreds of letters that he sent home to family during his service in Vietnam.

Hosted by Peter Meehan OAM, this conversation will give you an unrivalled account of what life was like for a frontline soldier in a war without front lines.

To see what's on at the Shrine, head to shrine.org.au/whats-on-at-the-shrine

Music:...

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