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Stories of veteran service and sacrifice straight from the people driving today’s most important veterans causes and veterans organizations around the world. The show shines a spotlight on their inspiring projects making a real difference for veterans and their families, and along the way we'll hear the stories that drive them to do their best every day as they work to support veterans and their memory.
00:00:06:01 - 00:00:30:00
Speaker 1
Hey, it's Matthew Cudmore, a story behind the Stone, a show where we talk service, sacrifice and story. Connecting you to the people. Changing the way the world remembers, and veterans causes in commemoration. Today we're headed Down Under to Australia's capital city, Canberra, home of the Australian War Memorial, a national memorial museum and archive dedicated to commemorating Australians who died War over a million visitors per year.
00:00:30:00 - 00:00:55:17
Speaker 1
Walk the courtyard and hall of memory at the memorial, paying respects to the over 100,000 Australians who served and died in war. This is more than a museum. It's where a nation remembers serving Australians, including conflicts before the First World War to Gallipoli, to the trenches of the Western Front, to World War Two in the Pacific, in Europe, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and peacekeeping missions around the world.
00:00:55:19 - 00:01:19:13
Speaker 1
Joining us today is Terri-Anne Simmonds, Head of the Digital Experience at the Memorial, who helps lead the memorial's digital transformation and digital projects, ensuring new generations can connect with the personal stories behind the names. We'll explore how the memorial is helping Australians and the world to remember, interpret and understand the lasting impact of war. Terry on it was such a pleasure chatting with you today.
00:01:19:15 - 00:01:21:16
Speaker 1
And to our listeners, thanks for tuning in.
00:01:27:17 - 00:01:45:19
Speaker 1
Welcome to Story Behind the Stone, where we talk service, sacrifice and stories connecting you to the past and the most interesting people in the field of veteran causes and commemoration. My name is Ryan Mullins, along with Matthew Cudmore, and we are with Memory Anchor, a company committed to using technology for good as we change the way the world remembers.
00:01:45:21 - 00:01:52:16
Speaker 1
Today we're joined by Terri-Anne Simmonds, Head of Digital Experience at the Australian War Memorial. Terri-Anne, thank you so much for joining us today.
00:01:52:21 - 00:01:55:07
Speaker 2
Oh my pleasure. Thank you for having me, Terry.
00:01:55:07 - 00:02:06:02
Speaker 3
It's so wonderful to have you on the show. Thank you for joining. I would like to just give a little bit of context to our listeners about the Australian War Memorial. Where is it sited and what does it mean to the people of Australia?
00:02:06:07 - 00:02:30:22
Speaker 2
This giant war memorial is in Canberra, which is Australia's national capital. So it's about, three hours south of Sydney. So listeners are probably familiar with Sydney, so it's just inland a little, it's not on the coast, but it is where our Australian Parliament is. And it is on the war land about First Nations people.
00:02:31:00 - 00:02:45:22
Speaker 2
The Australian War Memorial is the heart of commemoration for Australians. So it is, the place that people come to remember, to reflect and to learn about our service, and our military history.
00:02:45:22 - 00:03:08:18
Speaker 1
We were chatting a little bit before we started recording, just on how actually significant this site is. And for people who haven't seen it before and I haven't been there personally. I keep spying on it from Satellite View because it's under some really phenomenal, construction projects that you're going on. But can you just tell us first before we get into the construction?
00:03:08:18 - 00:03:13:22
Speaker 1
But you know what specifically? It is a special site. It's more than just a memorial, isn't it?
00:03:13:23 - 00:03:43:12
Speaker 2
That's right. It's the Australian War Memorial. We have legislation that, that, says our role is for, to help Australians actually understand, the meaning of, war. And at the impacts of war. And so what that means is for actually a museum, but also a memorial, which is incredibly important. And we are also an archive.
00:03:43:12 - 00:04:22:07
Speaker 2
So we're custodians, all of an enormous amount of, our past, our Australian past. And so it's a really, it's multifaceted. And, our physical location, is it's incredible. And it's a really beautiful place to visit. And it's always been the case and, and it's just a really striking place. And, as you mentioned, we're we're in the middle of a huge construction project because we actually do run out of space, that the building is about eight years old.
00:04:22:07 - 00:04:42:07
Speaker 2
And so, as you can imagine, unfortunately, because, complex have continued, we've had to we've had to expand that footprint. And so, yeah, it's an incredible place. And you really have to say it, to really understand it. But it is a beautiful place.
00:04:42:07 - 00:04:51:23
Speaker 3
Australia, we think of it Gallipoli to Afghanistan. How do Australians today look at Australia's participation in different conflicts?
00:04:51:23 - 00:05:18:12
Speaker 2
We, of the country, one of them will think, well, it's, oldest living cultures, but for a long time we've thought of ourselves as a very young country, with generations, particularly around the First World War and in the Second World, we were a huge population. And so the impacts those wars had on our culture was enormous.
00:05:18:14 - 00:05:47:01
Speaker 2
And the, the fact that, so many small towns around the country say Australia's got the big capital cities that we've made up for so many, small regional country towns and often, the impacts, people have gotten a particularly Solomon's going to serve in those early have the First World War in particular that will have a massive impact on that.
00:05:47:07 - 00:06:10:20
Speaker 2
That community. And so I think people have always resonated with that. And then certainly even with the Second World War. So my grandfather served in the second. And I didn't actually, I guess if he didn't die in the war, but I didn't get to hear about the past before I, was born. And not having that that connection with him.
00:06:10:22 - 00:06:43:17
Speaker 2
But knowing that he served, I've been able to look at his service records. I've been able to find photos of him and international collection. So it's it just has it that, it's a personal thing. It's so incredibly personal and so painful in Australia. And then as, as we move on and I think it's in more contemporary times, I know a lot of our current serving, military people are due to bring their families here as well to say, look, this is what we do.
00:06:43:17 - 00:07:05:16
Speaker 2
And that's a really important part of, just, I guess, in terms of Afghanistan and being able to tell the story because it's such a long, drawn out, conflict. I think it's we need to provide context for people and, yeah, I think that's it's a that's a really, really hard question. That could be a whole podcast.
00:07:05:16 - 00:07:41:23
Speaker 2
But yeah, it's I think it's really it's it's, just in incredibly important part. And it means so much to say to people the Australian War Memorial in particular, quite a few years ago, I was, driving around for work and we have this vehicle that, you know, had, branding on it. And I was saying it was just a small little, driving kind of hotel motel thing, and, there were these young kids in the, like, just across, in a room across.
00:07:41:23 - 00:08:03:11
Speaker 2
And I was like, do you work for the Australian War Memorial? I was like, yes. And I was so thrilled. Like, I felt like a rock star because the parents, currently serving and they were, you know, that were kind of in between postings and, and so it just it was something that it just meant so much to take.
00:08:03:16 - 00:08:06:11
Speaker 2
And that's the privilege of working here as well.
00:08:06:14 - 00:08:14:13
Speaker 3
I'd love to turn the lens towards you. How did you get involved and how did you get your interest? Your grandfather, I'm guessing, had something to do with it.
00:08:14:14 - 00:08:41:21
Speaker 2
I think for me, it was actually the architecture of the building is something, that really actually drew me because it's it's a really solemn place. So that iconic dome that you say, arrived from your Google Earth so that, that's our whole memory. And in the hall of memory is the tomb at the Australian soldier.
00:08:41:23 - 00:09:17:04
Speaker 2
So because we know so many people, who didn't get to come home. And so it, that soldier represents all soldiers, yep. That's the one that died there. So, that architecture particularly. So if you're coming from Anzac Parade, which is the the main drive, you've got the view of that dome and it just actually died, really always resonated with me.
00:09:17:06 - 00:09:38:15
Speaker 2
But I guess the how I actually started with the, a sort of war memorial was for a project, called Places of Pride, which is our National Register or memorials. So sort of that, that and, I've got a digital background and a love for all things digital. And what I love about digital is it is a communication tool.
00:09:38:15 - 00:10:05:17
Speaker 2
And so it's where I feel really lucky and love telling stories as, as you guys do as well. And then you take technology and digital advances to tell those stories and creative in new ways, and so I started with that project, which was, the idea is to capture every memorial across the country, which again, that comes back to that, First World War.
00:10:05:17 - 00:10:34:04
Speaker 2
So that memorials were being erected before the end of the Festival War because when there was news that people had been lost, there was no wind involved, there was no rainforest that, you know, not there were no graves that could be visited at the end. So memorials were recorded across country, across the country and, every Anzac day, that's when local communities come together to commemorate.
00:10:34:04 - 00:10:51:23
Speaker 2
And so we wanted to actually capture that with a view of, showcasing that in that view by an entrance, you start a war memorial. So that's how I got here. And then, I was at, at what do I, for a little while, and then I was able to come back because they had a digital, which is.
00:10:51:23 - 00:10:53:13
Speaker 2
Yeah, just been an absolute dream.
00:10:53:13 - 00:11:03:02
Speaker 3
And you have thousands of memorials logged in places of pride. How can people access that? And what are you most proud of with that project?
00:11:03:04 - 00:11:05:22
Speaker 2
Matthew, you have the best questions.
00:11:06:00 - 00:11:09:22
Speaker 3
I don't know if they're all fair, but they are questions they had.
00:11:09:22 - 00:11:34:16
Speaker 2
But how can people get involved? Yes, people go to the website, they create an account, to upload the photos. And so I think that's the really interesting thing that even if a memorial has already been recorded, we've really encouraging people to, add their own photos because we can tell more of a story. What are like nice up with that particular project?
00:11:34:16 - 00:12:13:15
Speaker 2
I think, that there's the bits about the project that are great. What I've loved about it is actually connecting with people across the country. So and actually, really getting an insight into of how people commemorate and what it means to them. And the and as a part of the, the, the opening of the new invite entrance, which is has opened, in December last year, we've got a large digital display, which is a cinematic seal showcasing the, commemoration across the country.
00:12:13:15 - 00:12:44:05
Speaker 2
So, there's over we're getting close to 13,000 memorials that are recorded, places of pride. So obviously we're in a film sense, capture all of those. So we really make sure that we start this small, the grand, quiet commemoration, contemporary commemoration. And so that film, actually is something that I, it's 20 minutes and I and it's actually it doesn't have any sound.
00:12:44:05 - 00:13:04:15
Speaker 2
And I thought, how's that going to engage people? And while I'm slightly biased, I've watched it so many times and I just absolutely love it. It's really beautiful. And with that project. So what I was able to do. So a beautiful spot. In Queensland, Currumbin. It's near the Gold Coast. You might have heard of the Gold Coast.
00:13:04:17 - 00:13:35:09
Speaker 2
A service Paradise kind of, area. They don't service. They do a burial at sea, which is incredibly moving. So they, take out these boats, and every year, veterans that have passed, if their families choose to, they, had the ashes of those veterans. And so it's like a continue way of commemoration, but in a contemporary sense, and it's just incredibly moving.
00:13:35:09 - 00:13:41:20
Speaker 2
So, yeah, that's I think that project and it's, every part of it has been just such an honor to work on.
00:13:42:00 - 00:14:03:10
Speaker 3
I can hear the passionate conviction about about this project. I want to pause for a second to provide again, because I'm the context guy. I heard of two concepts that, I have heard about and I have seen in photographs and on the internet and everything, Anzac day and the Dawn service. I think these are so special and so specific to Australia and New Zealand as well.
00:14:03:14 - 00:14:31:02
Speaker 2
The 25th of April is, where we come together, to commemorate the Gallipoli landings. But it also is a moment in time for Australia to stop and reflect, but also thank, our current and former service people. I think that's really a part of it. It's it's a time to just pause and wait. Don't do that.
00:14:31:04 - 00:15:08:15
Speaker 2
A lot in modern society, but, it begins. So the Anzac day, it's probably slightly different in each, community. But essentially at dawn or pre-dawn, we wake up together. There's the the ODIs. Right. So we, we bring the old there's also the last post is sounded so that that quite famous, vehicle battle coal and we all just pause and reflect together as a community.
00:15:08:15 - 00:15:44:00
Speaker 2
And it's really is really moving because it, it's in that, quiet at the morning is actually a really wonderful time to say reflect. Try and imagine the, the, the, I guess the fear that they had when they're about to go into battle. And it's a, it's a time where we just hear some stories about people's experiences.
00:15:44:02 - 00:16:13:17
Speaker 2
But yeah, the ceremony itself is incredibly moving in Canberra. It's at the Australian War Memorial where the Queen, with the didgeridoo, that's, so that's really, you know, and you can imagine you can hear a pin drop, and then the territory comes, and then with that pinnacle, it's just, really, really, again, special. It's hard, actually, to put into words how incredibly moving it is.
00:16:13:22 - 00:16:20:23
Speaker 1
You've been in this role for a while. Is is there any story in particular that really touches you that you've come across one.
00:16:20:23 - 00:16:57:17
Speaker 2
Of the stories? Last year actually, we launched transcribe, which is our new transcription website where people can come and look really up close online at digitized records and one of the stories that is really heartbreaking. But also has has a happy ending, which is, you know, sometimes not the case, but in the Second World War, Flying Officer 110 he, you know, letters were such a big part of how people communicated to back contact.
00:16:57:19 - 00:17:26:18
Speaker 2
And that's why transcription is so incredible. So he had written a letter just in terms of in the event of his death, which I can't imagine having to write that letter and knowing that it could be a real possibility. And he wrote this letter. He was late returning from an operation, and so it was thought that he had, he had died in operation.
00:17:26:20 - 00:17:50:15
Speaker 2
The letter was sent to his wife back home, and they had a young son, a four year old son. And we at the Australian War Memorial had that letter. So which, it's been donated by the family. We've been able to transcribe it, read his words. It's like saying goodbye. And fortunately, he was fine. Yes.
00:17:50:15 - 00:18:33:11
Speaker 2
Absolutely fine. That's the that's the the hot twist that you absolutely want to hear. But that letter was sent to her. She received it. So there was a, you know, a moment in time I hope will just completely collapse. But luckily, news was passed on that actually, that was a correct. But yeah, just just, what I love about that transcription project is that you get to hear that first person account for over a hundred years ago now, and if you can't read that beautiful cursive, writing the transcription does it for you.
00:18:33:11 - 00:18:58:14
Speaker 2
So I have to admit, I usually just look at the, the level of that really quickly and go, yep, that's beautiful cup. Read it, and then I'll write the transcription. And yeah, that's actually just incredible. It's a real window into our past. The other the other thing that's or I guess contemporary fit and not any less real.
00:18:58:20 - 00:19:27:21
Speaker 2
So and I think that's the thing when we're talking about these people, they were these people 100 years ago were just like you and I, but without smartphones, essentially. But it does really hit home what it means to people in modern day, I had a veteran that, in Afghanistan that tried to come to Canberra, where they're working together on, that film, projects that are talked about in the mine entrance.
00:19:27:23 - 00:20:06:03
Speaker 2
And he hadn't been to the memorial for a few years. And so he and I walked around and in our commitment area. So it's a very solemn area. So. And it has on the walls, the role of all, the over 130,000 servicemen and women that have died in service of war, in service like operations, and 103,000, in the context of Australia, with a small talk to you all is just absolutely heartbreaking.
00:20:06:05 - 00:20:50:18
Speaker 2
But I was able to take, James Shea to his unit, and he saw for the first time the value to someone he had served with. That was lost. And for him, that was incredibly hard. But I think he would say it's important. And it's again, it's about, you know, paying respect to that person. And, and and it's I don't want to liken it to when we lose people in our lives, we all need something that I think when you work with someone and in a combat sense, it's a different relationship.
00:20:50:18 - 00:21:09:06
Speaker 2
It's it is, I guess, like family bonds. And when you lose someone, it's just so complicated. And I think that's what we know. If we work with people and it's so complicated and so getting extra that witness to that, it's incredibly special.
00:21:09:06 - 00:21:44:22
Speaker 1
Thank you for sharing that. And and that, you know, and as you're talking, a couple things are kind of coming to my mind is just, again, that importance of the spaces of remembrance, not just for families but for serving members too. And I think that just really shows the the importance of that, that story. And, you know, you're you're expansion of the memorial itself is you were saying it's done to create space for these new conflicts.
00:21:45:00 - 00:22:11:05
Speaker 1
Which is amazing because I personally believe that that a lot of the soldiers who have returned, they carry a lot of psychological wounds as well. And part of that trauma is just witnessing that pain and witnessing that grief. And, you know, I again, I think your, your, your memorial itself is a reason to hop on a plane from Canada and go down and check it out.
00:22:11:09 - 00:22:31:13
Speaker 1
I'm very curious. Yeah, I will and I'm like, I'm curious is, you know what? What is some of these expansions going to look like? How are you planning on commemorating some, some of these modern conflicts? Because we often think of these old conflicts from 100 years ago, 80 years ago.
00:22:31:15 - 00:22:56:15
Speaker 2
Australia's been involved in many peacekeeping operations, too, with the custodians of, our military history. And that means that we're custodians of some really large, we call them large technology objects. I don't know of which there is basically it's, you know, the the vehicles or the boats, so that for us, I get in trouble for calling the boats.
00:22:56:17 - 00:23:24:11
Speaker 2
There's a bit all the, all the, the different, large things, helicopters, things like that. So you do we do want to be able to show people those as well because particularly in the modern day, complex people could say that's that's what I served. Although that's where like, I was in that, that Bushmaster, Debbie, the Bushmaster, so it's kind of modern day tech type thing.
00:23:24:13 - 00:23:47:09
Speaker 2
I'll get that wrong as well. I, that people saying that makes it real for them as all they get to say, the size and the scale. So obviously the house that you date a bigger footprint as well. And then that it's also it is just being able to tell the Afghanistan stories, but also contextualize it.
00:23:47:15 - 00:24:28:13
Speaker 2
So part of being a museum is that you need to look at the context of people. So it's not just here's this amazing, impressive plane. It's what where did that fit into the story? Why why was there a conflict? And we do have. So I think it actually today is in Australia anyway, is the International Day of the pace people, pace taking rather and so we have vehicle that was driven by, an and that was hit by an IED.
00:24:28:16 - 00:24:55:17
Speaker 2
He was on the peacekeeping mission and that vehicle, in its form where it's essentially, you know, obviously being hit by something, that's going to be showcased, in our new development as well. So it just really I think it's again, it's a way of people understand if there were, have put that, you know, they put themselves on the line, but also, you know, and what is that damage?
00:24:55:17 - 00:25:08:19
Speaker 2
What does that. Yeah. These are places that are far away from Australia. So, you know, you need to be able to have a place where people can understand to some extent, the scale of the crisis.
00:25:08:22 - 00:25:40:18
Speaker 1
You know, when we look at, Australians, Canadians, you know, the majority of our casualties happened as a result of IEDs. And so, you know, that object and obviously, I've never seen anything like that. And again, you know, to see the damage that are caused by these IEDs and what those individuals were facing, you know, I have a, you know, a few friends who came back and it was difficult to drive on certain roads because of just the amount of experiences they had of these IEDs going off.
00:25:40:18 - 00:26:05:05
Speaker 1
And so to capture that and be able to share that experience. And I love how you said that it's it is context, you know, and my question to you is, you know, we've talked about the physical space, but I'm kind of curious on what your take is on digital technology and the future of commemoration. What what is your view on how technology can help that commemoration into the future?
00:26:05:07 - 00:26:41:23
Speaker 2
I love that question because obviously that's what I love. And I actually love some of the work that you guys have done, really keen to dig into, because, I mean, digital provides, opportunity, opportunity to reach new people. Talk to me. I mean, one of the things we talk about, internally, a fair bit is reaching new audiences, and younger audiences, so because they're, you know, it's an important part, like, we exist for a reason.
00:26:42:01 - 00:27:06:10
Speaker 2
And you don't have to support war to visit it. It's not about supporting it. It's about understanding it and appreciating and respecting the people that have set. So in terms of digital, it's so exciting. One of the things that we're, we're doing this year, actually, is we're about to embark on a complete view, website, develop a project.
00:27:06:10 - 00:27:34:03
Speaker 2
So we'll have a brand new website. What that means and why that relates to your question, Brian, is but think again about, well, with AI, with new technology, what can we do to get people to curate accurate information that they need, or that they're looking for or what have they, what can they discover that they couldn't discover before?
00:27:34:03 - 00:28:05:11
Speaker 2
And so that's really, really exciting. And just to give some context, so we're currently every year to our website, get about 3 million visitors. And so we've already got high traffic. But what we want to do is, make it a high quality experience for everyone. And we've got some ways to go there. The other thing to say on our website, we make available wherever we can objects, items from our national collection.
00:28:05:13 - 00:28:27:07
Speaker 2
So it's a way. So even though we're expanding our physical footprint, we still can only display it's a really small percentage of the what we hold. And I don't know the exact figure, but I'm going to say like it's 10% that the national collection is what is actually 88. So digital allows us to actually show those objects.
00:28:27:09 - 00:28:59:03
Speaker 2
And, you know, we, we need, 3D technology. We can things that are fragile like despite. So some of the, the basics and the fundamental digital at just the bits that, really add value, to people's experience of learning. And then you start to look at really like how we're communicating with people. So it's a bit it's actually a bit of a question mark about, and I'd love to talk to you guys again once we have a bit further on on that website.
00:28:59:05 - 00:29:30:00
Speaker 2
Jenny, because I really think, you know, I could have a really important role, when that I did really well and safely. But to just dive deep, into a specific, question on time and, I think I mentioned to you guys, for, about my grandfather serving in the Second World War, I, I had met he had painted die, and service.
00:29:30:02 - 00:29:55:19
Speaker 2
In fact, his, the fact that we hold those records, and the National Archives actually have his service records. And so I was able to see, say, his service records, and he was a bit naughty and it got fined. So, you know, a bit of drunk and disorderly behavior here and there. And so, but he was a rat of Tobruk.
00:29:55:21 - 00:30:31:04
Speaker 2
And that's a really important story in a, in the Australian context as well. And not having ever met him because he passed before I was born, I was able to find a photo of him, with his. Yeah, where he was, serving. And that's incredibly precious and special. And so what I want to do is make sure that our digital tools get other people, others, the Australians, being able to find their connection, but really quickly and easily.
00:30:31:05 - 00:30:46:04
Speaker 2
But we don't want them to have to be, a librarian or a technical wizard or, you know, it should just be a few. It should step. So it's actually kind of the basics. Sometimes getting the basics right is a really important part of the pace.
00:30:46:04 - 00:30:52:00
Speaker 3
Terry. And would would you be comfortable actually sharing that image. Do you do you have it slightly.
00:30:52:01 - 00:30:56:05
Speaker 2
Yeah. No absolutely not. He he looks naughty in the photo.
00:30:56:07 - 00:30:59:03
Speaker 3
How would he feel about the work that you're doing today.
00:30:59:05 - 00:31:19:21
Speaker 2
Oh yeah. But you've kind of checked me up there a bit. I think. He would be incredibly proud. I think, which is really lovely. And, I have to say, I think my parents are as well. I think they're really proud of that work. But it is a privilege, and I know I'm very lucky.
00:31:19:22 - 00:31:45:22
Speaker 2
So I'm a I'm a public servant. So I try and public servant. I get to really engage with members of the public and see them and talk to the members and even, just that incident. So I could be walking into, administration building and, there could be a visitor that's, you know, going to to the memorial and, they might be lost or they might have a question.
00:31:45:22 - 00:31:54:06
Speaker 2
I get to talk to them and just say what it means to them. So, I don't know, I, I had to have a different.
00:31:54:08 - 00:31:56:01
Speaker 3
I think he would be.
00:31:56:03 - 00:32:01:20
Speaker 2
And he might not be proud of me. The saying that he got in trouble for drinking.
00:32:01:22 - 00:32:17:09
Speaker 1
You know what I, I think, I think he would. I know a lot of soldiers that kind of war there. There's stories, you know, some of the ones they they enjoyed sharing wasn't so much the war stories as it was the time they got in trouble for doing this or that. Yeah. You know.
00:32:17:09 - 00:32:19:08
Speaker 2
Yeah. That's right. So great. You know, I.
00:32:19:08 - 00:32:21:10
Speaker 1
Think he's having a good chuckle with you.
00:32:21:12 - 00:32:22:23
Speaker 2
Yeah. Hopefully. Yeah.
00:32:23:05 - 00:32:42:15
Speaker 3
Terry and I wanted to talk just a little bit about the future. We have a lot to look forward to 2025 was a big year with Anzac 110. You have a lot going on with the physical, space at the, with the ongoing works and construction. What do people have to look forward to in the next 12 to 24 months at the.
00:32:42:17 - 00:33:06:22
Speaker 2
Yeah, it's a really exciting time. And Brian showed us on Google Earth and it was really great to say the evolution. So we've been a part of this, development project. So it's been it's actually a project of eight years, as you imagine, with a massive construction. And so we really it's a really large increase to our physical footprint.
00:33:06:22 - 00:33:36:12
Speaker 2
And the exciting bit is where all of us start. So the new Anzac Hall, which is the has that, rising sad motif over the top of it, which is, breakfast that the Australian Army, that is trying to open the, in 2026. And what I would do. And so to all your international listeners and hello to all the Canadians.
00:33:36:14 - 00:34:06:06
Speaker 2
Australians love Canadians, by the way. We would love for you to start planning your trip to Australia and see our new, expanded, building and the galleries and the stories that we tell. So I would really recommend it. People start to look at, April 2027 for our visit to Australia. Because they can come to Anzac Day.
00:34:06:08 - 00:34:31:08
Speaker 2
I can do it. And it's not too cold yet. Not that. And this kind of things away, you know, probably doesn't compare, but it's a beautiful, awesome area. So this year is actually quite warm. Still. Sometimes it's a little cold when you get up really early for the dawn service. But yeah, it's an incredible time where people will be able to see all the havoc that's gone on.
00:34:31:08 - 00:35:03:20
Speaker 2
And I say every day, the team internally. So I guess behind the staff and the people I work with. So I work with incredible people so I can service historians, our curators, they've been working incredibly hard to really honor, these stories and, and 20, 26, 2027 people get to see that hard work. So I really encourage people to start planning it.
00:35:03:23 - 00:35:04:22
Speaker 2
Come on down.
00:35:05:00 - 00:35:26:13
Speaker 1
I wrote it down April 2027. And trust me, your cold weather's our hot weather, so. No, there's no concern there. I was, I was in Sydney years ago, I remember is in the middle of your winter and had shorts and a t shirt on, and those two ladies literally came by with parkas on, and we both stared at each other for a second, thinking each other were crazy.
00:35:26:15 - 00:35:59:03
Speaker 2
Oh, great. I'm just saying, I don't like yeah, Sydney City is just like, so show off and in. It's fabulous. Like weather and just, Canberra's the bush capital, so you get a different experience. So we're actually, surrounded by mountains. So we do get quite cold. And it's a, but I think the other thing that's a bit unusual, we have so we have to add to the amazing, beautiful Mount Ainslie right behind the memorial.
00:35:59:05 - 00:36:23:00
Speaker 2
And actually, you can walk there's a trail up that's called the Kokoda. Like, it's a representation of the Kokoda Trail. And, because we're surrounded by bushland, what has happened to times is if I've left work, say, a little later, it's kind of got dark. I will be created by kangaroos coming down from the hill.
00:36:23:01 - 00:36:25:14
Speaker 1
Okay, well, see, now you're selling me even more.
00:36:25:15 - 00:36:32:21
Speaker 2
I to say, it's a great hike. It's really beautiful. But, you want to avoid the ruins if you can.
00:36:32:23 - 00:36:43:15
Speaker 1
That's a deal. Well, and, you know, thank you so much for joining us today. For our guests that have tuned in. If they want to learn more information, where do they go?
00:36:43:18 - 00:37:00:15
Speaker 2
They can go to I am.gov. And you that's our main website. And from there they should be able to find any path I want to want to go down. If they wanted to look at that particular letter that I was talking about, from Flying Officer Territory five,
00:37:00:15 - 00:37:03:12
Speaker 2
they can go to transcribe,
00:37:03:12 - 00:37:08:12
Speaker 2
that I do. And from there they can start to look
00:37:08:12 - 00:37:28:03
Speaker 2
the other thing that, the listeners might be interested in, we've just launched recently a new, website that's highly curated stories and really, well researched articles by historians internally and internationally.
00:37:28:08 - 00:37:29:00
Speaker 2
So
00:37:29:00 - 00:37:36:21
Speaker 2
we're encountering you. That's our new, digital platform. But to tell more in-depth stories,
00:37:36:21 - 00:37:55:02
Speaker 2
we've got a mix of videos and things like that. So lots of people to go and visit that as well. I mentioned earlier about in word, that vehicle, there's a video up on with interviewing, and what's sister
00:37:55:02 - 00:37:56:09
Speaker 2
interviewed, and you can see
00:37:56:09 - 00:38:03:10
Speaker 2
that as well. So. That is a good place to, to visit as well.
00:38:03:12 - 00:38:20:19
Speaker 1
And thank you so much. And again, to our listeners, if you haven't had a chance to check out the website, what they have done over there at the Australian War Memorial is absolutely amazing. It is something to look at. I think you're, you know, in my mind, from what I've seen, you're one of the leaders in the world.
00:38:20:20 - 00:38:44:22
Speaker 2
Thank you Ryan. Thank you. Matthew. And I have to say, what you guys are doing is incredible. It's so fascinating. It's actually really inspiring. And that's what I love about, you know, seeing other work, the kind of digital work that you guys are doing just makes me want to be better as well. And you're doing it from such a place.
00:38:45:00 - 00:38:54:09
Speaker 2
Genuine authenticity. That up a can't be. People can't be replaced. So. Yeah. Thank you for having me. I really love talking to both of you.
00:39:00:10 - 00:39:19:20
Speaker 1
Thanks so much for tuning in. Story. Behind the Stone is available on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, and on the Rise Across America Radio Network on iHeartRadio. Audacity and tune in to search for wreath. We air every Thursday at 10 a.m. eastern on the Red Cross Radio Network. Thank you for tuning in.