In December 1941, after 18 months of training, Australia’s Gull Force was sent to Ambon, an island in the Spice Islands of Indonesia, to halt the Japanese advance. By February 1942, after 4 days of fighting, the 1100-man strong battalion were prisoners of war. Some prisoners wanted to escape and some did. Lt Jinkins and six others escape from a Japanese POW Camp on Ambon by sea going around the Spice Islands to Darwin. This is their story.

In December 1941, after 18 months of training, Australia’s Gull Force was sent to Ambon, an island in the Spice Islands of Indonesia, to halt the Japanese advance. By February 1942, after 4 days of fighting, the 1100-man strong battalion were prisoners of war. This is the moving story of one of those POWs – the camp’s Padre, Charlie Patmore in a POW camp that had a higher percentage death rate than the Burma Railway. 

The Wonga pigeon is a plump ground-dwelling pigeon in Australia. Aboriginals have Dreaming stories about the Wonga Wonga but when Europeans arrived, their white flesh meant that they became a food source. In addition to hunting for food in the days or early settlement and during the Great Depression, their numbers have been seriously decreased by foxes and sport shooting. However, with recent protection laws, their future appears to be secure. 

In November 1836, the Africaine arrived at the western end of Kangaroo Island. This ship was one of the “first fleet” sent out to establish the new colony of South Australia. Six of the passengers believed that it would be a straightforward two-day journey to trek across the island. After ten days lost in the Australian bush without food and water, only four of the trekkers arrived at the eastern end of the island. The unknown question is why they decided to undertake the journey in the first place. 

In November, 1836, the Africaine arrived at the western end of Kangaroo Island. This ship was one of the “first fleet” sent out to establish the new colony of South Australia. Six of the passengers believed that it would be a straightforward two-day journey to trek across the island. After ten days lost in the Australian bush without food and water, only four of the trekkers arrived at the eastern end of the island. The unknown issue is why they decided to undertake the journey in the first place. 

In 1912, Alf Devaney was a stockman on Terrick Terrick Station near Blackall in Queensland.  One morning, he rode out from his campsite. He did not tell anyone where he was going or when he would return. This was a fatal mistake. The story of Alf’s tragic death has been regarded as an Australian urban myth but, in reality, it is a true story and a timely warning of the workplace risks that faced by rural people.