Contact us by emailing rexgru at iprimus.com.au or write to
Honorary Secretary, Darwin Defenders
73 Bay Shore Avenue
Clifton Springs VIC 3222
Australia
When war came to Australia...This is the web site of Darwin Defenders 1942-45 Inc
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Get involvedYou can help the Darwin Defenders education and commemoration efforts. This page suggests how you can participate. We encourage you to organise a commemoration ceremony in your local area and contribute to the Darwin Defenders newsletter.
How you can participateYou can help ensure Australians never forget the courage of those who defended the Top End--and the losses they incurred. Attend a local commemoration ceremony. If one has not been organised in your area, you can do it yourself. There is very little expense involved and local councils, churches, the RSL and community groups are most helpful. Publicise the 19 February anniversary in your local area. Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and notify the radio station for its free community service announcements. Our media kit will get you started. We can supply brochures for public library branches, schools and museums--contact the honorary secretary for assistance. In early February, write to your local newspaper about the memorial services and the significance of 19 February. Here's a sample letter to get you started (Microsoft Word format). Join Darwin Defenders—contact the honorary secretary for details, or download an application form in Microsoft Word format. Encourage your local schools to teach Australian history. Your local RSL may already have an arrangement for veterans to speak to children about their experiences. Contribute to the Darwin Defenders newsletter and this web site—see below for details. Tell other people about Darwin Defenders and this web site. Organise a local ceremonyMemorial ceremonies are held around Australia in February each year. The Darwin community hosts a range of events for veterans and their families each February. Contact the Darwin City Council for details. In other states and territories, many military units that served in Darwin hold reunions at this time of year. Contact the RSL for information about local activities. Reunions and commemoration services are a brief pause in our lives where we gather with our friends to compare our thoughts and memories, to understand what happened, and why, and to recall the comradeship which helped us to surmount the difficulties endured at the time. If there has not been a memorial service in your area before, you can organise one. There is very little expense involved, and you will find local councils, churches, community organisations and the RSL are eager to help. Veterans, veterans' families (including children) and friends will all appreciate a chance to attend. You might also invite community groups and local schools to participate. For some ideas about publicising your local ceremony, please see our media kit. Contribute to the newsletterWe are collecting photographs and historical information about Darwin for publication and distribution. Stories and photos are published in the association's quarterly newsletter and may appear on this web site. We have also contributed some material to other publications such as historians Peter and Sheila Forrest's 2001 book about wartime Darwin (available from Australia Post). If you were in Darwin in 1942-45, we want to hear from you! If you were in the armed services, tell us about:
Civilians and veterans' families are also welcome to contribute their stories and memories. Photographs or documents should be sent by mail. Remember to include your name and address so we can return them to you. Your photos will be digitally scanned onto a CD. This does not harm the photos. A copy of the CD will be sent to the Darwin Library with appropriate credits. If possible, please type your articles and stories. You can send them by e-mail or by post to the honorary secretary (the address is below). |
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