Kat Rae is an artist and veteran of the Australian Army who has transformed her experiences with Defence into striking art.  In this episode of Shrine Stories, we learn about the inspiration, process and message behind Kat's series of reduction linocut prints that depict the mountains of Afghanistan.  To follow Kat's work, head to katrae.net Content Warning: This episode discusses themes of mental health and suicide that may cause distress. If you need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For a full list of support services, head to shrine.org.au/wellbeing-resources. Music: Across the ..read more

Artist Ian Alderman spent seven years photographing the Belgian army’s bomb disposal team as they recovered ammunition from land that was once the battlefields of Passchendaele. Once a shell was identified, he had just two minutes to capture the moment before the team moved on to their next call.  This intricate work culminated in Recovering the Past—a unique photographic exhibition that connects these Belgian men with men of the Australian Imperial Force who fought during the First World War. The two groups are united through the art of photomontage, which results in a fascinating r ..read more

The Shrine Stories podcast takes you on a deep dive behind the objects on our gallery floor. In this episode, we explore the story behind a Norwegian language certificate that sheds light on the lengths some prisoners of war went to to escape captivity during the Second World War. The certificate belonged to Squadron Leader James Catanach, and for fans of the movie ‘The Great Escape’, this episode is sure to interest you. Music: Across the Line - Lone Canyon ..read more

The Shrine Stories podcast takes you on a deep dive behind the objects on our gallery floor. Just before Anzac Day in 1971, Melburnians woke to the news that the Shrine had been graffitied. Officials were understandably furious, but the identities of those involved remained a mystery. Shrine curator Kate Spinks-Colas joins us on this episode to unpack what happened, and why.  Music:  Across the Line - Lone Canyon ..read more

Whether you're a history lover or someone looking to learn more about Australia's wartime history, this podcast is for you.  ..read more

Bep-Rie Gomperts was two years old when the war started in the Netherlands. It soon became clear that she and her family needed to go into hiding for their safety.  Bep spent the next several years moving from family to family and was seperated from her mother just shy of her sixth birthday.  Listen as Bep recalls her childhood with several different families and what life was like amid the uncertainty.   Music: If I Were You, Alsever Lake ..read more

Silke Hesse was among more than 12,000 people who, at the peak of Second World War, were held in internment camps across Australia. She was almost six years old when she first stepped foot in Tatura internment camp.  Listen as she shares her story experiences of internment. Music: If I Were You, Alsever Lake ..read more

The Shrine Stories podcast takes you on a deep dive behind the objects on our gallery floor. In this episode, we explore a poster on display in the Vietnam War section of our Galleries. The poster was originally made and distributed in the United States as a protest piece. However, the one hanging at the Shrine has been re-designed and adopts a whole different meaning despite its similarities to the original. Join the Shrine's Collections coordinator Toby Miller as he unpacks this story.  Music: Across the Line - Lone Canyon ..read more

Garry Fabian was just eight years old when he and his parents were interned at Theresienstadt - a ghetto, concentration camp and transit camp used by Nazi Germany to house Jews from across Eastern Europe.  Of the 15,000 children who went through the camp, only 150 survived.  Listen as Garry shares his story and reflections on his childhood.   Music: If I Were You, Alsever Lake ..read more

The Shrine Stories podcast takes you on a deep dive behind the objects on our gallery floor. In this episode, we get festive by exploring two Christmas tins that were sent to soldiers in the Boer War and the First World War.  Join Exhibitions and Grants Coordinator at the Shrine Katrina Nicolson as she uncovers the contents of these boxes and how they were sent to the troops.  Music: Across the Line - Lone Canyon ..read more