Skip to content
Veterans Affairs

‘Battle for Australia’ Commemoration

Battle for Australia Foundation (Vic.) < 1 mins read

Shrine of Remembrance, Wednesday, 6 September 2023 at 11.00am

Pictorial and Interview Opportunities:
Four Victorian school students have been selected to take on the roles of WWII Australians who served during War in the Pacific ‘Battle for Australia’

The National Day of Commemoration ceremony will be conducted this week, on Wednesday, 6 September at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne. The ceremony will pay tribute to the heroics and sacrifice of WWII Service men and women. 

1 Minute Student Tribute Speeches:

  • 39th Battalion Soldier Kokoda Track: Malia Durrant, Lilydale High School.
  • RAAF Airman Battle of Milne Bay: Finn Darley, Parkdale Secondary College.
  • Sailor who survived sinking of HMAS PERTH: Harry Dymond, Aitken College.
  • Nurse who survived sinking of CENTAUR Hospital Ship: Claudia Ridley, Christ Church Grammar.

Special Guest Speaker:
Mr David Howell, Kokoda Track Historian will reflect on the costly Australian battles that prevented the enemy advance towards Port Morsby.

Background: During War in the Pacific, particularly the dark and desperate years of 1942-1944, Australians and the Nation’s allies selflessly fought fierce land, air and sea battles, thousands of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice. ‘Battle for Australia’ Commemoration attracts large public numbers and school students state-wide.


Contact details:

For more information, interviews and pictorial opportunities, contact:

SQNLDR Peter Meehan OAM (ret’d), Battle for Australia Foundation.

Mobile: 0412 334 415
Email: [email protected]

More from this category

  • Veterans Affairs
  • 01/01/2026
  • 18:01
Minister for Veterans' Affairs

MEDIA RELEASE – DENTAL CHANGES LEAVE VETERANS SMILING

THE HON MATT KEOGH MPMinister for VETERANS’ AFFAIRSMINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL MEDIA RELEASE 1 January 2026 DENTAL CHANGES LEAVE VETERANS SMILING The Australian Government is enhancing dental care for veterans by providing easier access to more dental providers and increasing the money veterans can access for costly dental work up front. Following feedback from veterans and the dental sector, from 1 January 2026, funding for Schedule C items under the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Dental Program will double by switching from an annual to a biennial monetary limit. Schedule C includes high-cost treatments such as crowns, bridges and veneers.…

  • Veterans Affairs
  • 30/12/2025
  • 18:11
Minister for Veterans' Affairs

MEDIA RELEASE: Minister Keogh – National Commemorative Service to honour our Nashos

THE HON MATT KEOGH MP Minister for VETERANS’ AFFAIRS MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL MEDIA RELEASE 30 December 2025 On 14 February 2026, NationalServicemen’s Day, the Government will hold a National Commemorative Service in Canberra to mark 75 years since the inception of the 1951 National Service scheme. The service will be held in the Great Hall at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra starting at 10:30 am. More than 280,000 Australians were conscripted into Australia’s armed services through National Service schemes between 1951 and 1972. The schemes were a product of significant global and regional conflicts facing Australia following the…

  • Veterans Affairs
  • 12/12/2025
  • 13:28
Department of Veterans' Affairs

Minister Keogh – Joint Communiqué – Veterans’ Ministerial Council

THE HON MATT KEOGH MP Minister for VETERANS’ AFFAIRS MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ 10 December 2025 VETERANS’ MINISTERIAL COUNCIL Federal, State and Territory Ministers responsible for veterans’ matters met today to collaborate on further improving services and supports for veterans and families of veterans across Australia. Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Noting that last week marked one year since the Australian Government's response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, all Council members reaffirmed their commitment to working together to implement relevant recommendations across jurisdictions. The Council discussed the Australian…

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.