Ruth Conlan discusses her father, Private Arthur Conlan’s service. Arthur was taken from his mother as a child, and raised in an orphanage before being sent to work at aged 12 on dairy farms north of Brisbane, where he worked 7 days a week for board only, no wages. Arthur signed up when he was 18 and served in the 9th Battalion in New Guinea and the South West Pacific between 1942 and 1946. Arthur contracted malaria during his service which troubled him later in life, as did memories and trauma from the war. Arthur commemorated Anzac Day - ‘it was his day’ says Ruth, and she marched with him. Arthur had little trouble receiving his Army pension, which Ruth organised for him. Arthur died aged 84 and Ruth expresses a great deal of pride in his service.

• Watch Ruth’s interview at the Tweed Heads Yarn Up;
• Return to the Tweed Heads Yarn Up page.