Yarn Up participants
George Akee
Born in North Queensland into a Torres Strait Islander family, George Akee joined the army in 1988 and served for six years. George grew up in Townsville and served most of his Army career there as well. George talks about his basic training at Kapooka and Singleton and how difficult it was...
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Helen Akee
Helen Akee discusses her father Wabay Akee’s service with the Torres Strait Islander Light Infantry Battalion during World War 2. Wabay relocated to Thursday Island from Murray Island to serve with the battalion, leaving his wife and family behind.
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Harry Allie
Harry Allie was born in Charters Towers in Queensland. Harry’s two uncles served in World War 2 and his aunty served in the Women’s Land Army. Growing up very proud of his family’s history of service, there was always a good chance he too would join up one day and in 1966 Harry and his younger...
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Dennis Anderson
Dennis Anderson talks about his early life as a member of the stolen generations, and his recruitment into the Air Force, and the good and bad experiences he had in the services, including difficult and dangerous but rewarding work managing and transporting explosives.
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George Anderson
George Anderson spoke to the Serving Our Country project about his time in the Vietnam War as a conscripted soldier. George explained how he could have been exempted from serving as an Aboriginal Australian, but chose to sign up anyway as he also regarded himself as an Australian.
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Shane Anderson
Shane Anderson speaks about his experience in NORFORCE’s Army Indigenous Development Program, and his aspirations for enlisting in the Army.
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Ezra Anu
Torres Strait Islander Ezra Anu joined the army at age 18 in 1977, having grown up in North Queensland after his parents moved the family down from Saibai Island in 1968 looking for a better life and more opportunity. Ezra’s father had served in the Torres Strait Light Infantry Brigade and this...
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Robert Appo
Robert Appo discusses the service of his conscripted father Raymond Appo in Vietnam as a forward scout in the army.
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Edna Arnold
Edna Arnold discusses her family history including several family members who served in World War 2, namely John Edwards who served in North Africa, Palestine, Greece and Crete, Ethel Mary Sharpe who was a Corporal in the army, and Claude Baulch who served in the volunteer home guard. Edna...
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Graham Atkinson
Graham Atkinson discusses his service in Vietnam in the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Graham explains his training in Australia, the shock of going to Vietnam, and the difficulties he experienced after discharge and his grappling with PTSD and clinical depression some...
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