Two of Melbourne’s trams have been “wrapped” for the Anzac Centenary to inspire Victorians to get involved, share their stories and make connections. Key CBD tram shelters will carry inspirational stories of Victorians and WWI. The first Anzac Centenary tram was officially launched today by the Minister for Veterans, the Hon John Eren. Descendants of those who feature on the […]

Natalie Stone shares the story of Harry Vasey Wood. Harry Vasey Wood, known as Vasey, was born in Birregurra, Victoria, in 1888. He was the eldest child of James Edwin Wood and Marion Stocks. Vasey studies to become at dentist at Melbourne University, and went on to have his own dental practice in Moonee Ponds. […]

Nicole Phillips shares the story of her great-uncle Joseph ‘Vic’ Victor Truscott. Vic was born in Bendigo on 4 January, 1894. When he was 18, Vic was sent to Melbourne by the post office to work at the GPO in Elizabeth Street. His responsibilities included driving a horse-drawn van to Spencer Street to collect mail […]

Richard Morrison shares the story of his great-uncle Michael ‘Mick’ Byrne. Mick was born in Yarragon in 1891, the son of Anastasia and Pierce Byrne who were early settlers of Sunny Creek, near Trafalgar. Mick grew up with his younger siblings—Mary, Margaret, Veronica, Pierce, Agnes and Eileen—on the family farm, ‘Hawthorn Grove’. The farm is […]

Susan Meyer shares the story of her great-uncle John ‘Jock’ William Henderson. Jock enlisted on 19 October, 1914, when he was just 19 years old. Jock and his younger brother Charlie were enthusiastic members of the 19th Prince of Wales Light Horse (Burrumbeet Troop).  A farmer from the Ballarat area, he was one of the […]

The State Government of Victoria is pleased to announce Anaconda as the official outdoor adventure gear supplier for the Victorian Gallipoli 2015 ANZAC Day Dawn Service Tour. Anaconda will equip the 98 Victorian representatives – 80 secondary school students and 18 chaperones – with outdoor adventure gear to protect them from the harsh elements of […]

‘They had fought and survived at Gallipoli, where they became hardened, experienced soldiers, thoughtful and full of initiative. So loyal to their officers and the AIF were they that they had accepted the break-up of the original battalions, and marched sadly, but loyally, to the new battalions. They accepted their new circumstances among the raw […]

Did you enjoy our focus on the service of  Australian nurses this month? Read more about this little-known side of the war in Jan Bassett’s book Guns and Brooches: Australian Army Nursing from the Boer War to the Gulf War.

Did you know that Winnie the Pooh was inspired by this #WWI mascot? This American black bear, Winnie, was a mascot for Canadian soldiers during the war. Winnie was given to the London Zoo when they left for France. After seeing how much his son, Christopher Robin, loved Winnie during a trip to the zoo, […]

‘It is impossible to overstate the sickening loss that Fromelles represented to the people of Victoria. Pompey Elliott stood in the front line, tears streaming down his cheeks, shaking the hand of each of the returning survivors. Charles Bean said of him that he looked like a man who had lost his wife, so great […]