True Blue Conversations Podcast

Gwen Cherne was appointed as the inaugural Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner on the Repatriation Commission in August 2020. The following year in March, Gwen was selected as a member of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.

Gwen is committed to representing the perspectives of veteran families in ongoing policy and decision-making across Government. As a single mother with two young children at home, and having tragically lost her husband to suicide, Gwen is acutely aware of many of the challenges that Defence families face.

"I am proud to be the Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner and to be charged with ensuring the voice of veterans' families are heard,' Gwen says. "As the widow and mother of veterans I am very passionate about this work and the important role that families play in Australia's veteran support system. There is so much we can, and should, learn from families and I will make sure we do."

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Gwen Cherne

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Warrant Officer Kevin Arthur "Dasher" Wheatley VC enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in 1956. He served in Malaya with various units until 1965 when he was posted to the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV).

Dasher is one of the most extraordinary characters in Australian military history. He was a husband, father, champion footballer and one of the finest soldiers this country has ever produced. The story of his sacrifice is used by the ADF to this day as a perfect example of valour and mateship.

Although he is one of the most famous Victoria Cross recipients of all time, his story has never been fully told, until now. Author Michael Madden's book captures every sense of this compelling story of courage, sacrifice and never leaving your mates behind.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Michael Madden

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

In this Special 50th episode of True Blue History I am joined by Former Australian Army intelligence Officer Major Sarah Watson.

Sarah served 18.5 years in the military, including a deployment to Iraq where she provided strategic intelligence support to Overwatch Battlegroup West 2.

Sarah discharged from the Army in 2015, Since that time Sarah has thrown herself into supporting Veterans through her work with 'Soldier On', and 'Mates for Mates'.

Sarah competed in the 2017 Invictus games winning 5 gold and 2 silver in swimming, cycling and athletics events. When Sarah is not helping veterans she is busy raising her two sons George and David, training for triathlons, and running her new business 'Good 2 Go' mindset.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Sarah Watson

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

In this Special 50th episode of True Blue History I am joined by Former Australian Army intelligence Officer Major Sarah Watson.

Sarah served 15 years in the military, including a deployment to Iraq where she provided strategic intelligence support to Overwatch Battlegroup West 2.

 Sarah discharged from the Army in 2015, Since that time Sarah has thrown herself into supporting Veterans through her work with ‘Soldier On’, and ‘Mates for Mates’.

Sarah competed in the 2017 Invictus games winning 5 gold and 2 silver in swimming, cycling and athletics events.  When Sarah is not helping veterans she is busy raising her two sons George and David, training for triathlons, and running her new business ‘Good 2 Go’ mindset.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Sarah Watson

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

My guest today is former SAS Sergeant Harry Moffitt, who spent the majority of his 30 years in Australia's Defence Force with the elite Special Air Service Regiment (SASR).

Harry completed 11 service deployments amassing nearly 1,000 days on combat operations globally, including being wounded in action in 2008. He completed his time with the SASR as its Director of High-Performance.

He recently authored his memoir, Eleven Bats, a book about his military service and his love of cricket. He has a research Master of Psychology from Deakin University and recently completed a Harvard Business School Program.

Harry and his family are based in Melbourne where he practises as a psychologist and strategic advisor across high performing sports, corporate, and government organisations as the founder and Director of Performance at Stotan Group.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Anthony "Harry" Moffitt

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Welcome to a very special episode with today's guest, Dr Aaron Pegram as we talk about one of the Australians' most significant military actions during the Great War

In early April 1918, the Australians and British had successfully defended the French village of Villers Bretonneux, only to have it lost later that month on 24 April.

With the German Spring Offensive still threatening to break through towards the crucial transport and communications centre of Amiens, two exhausted Australian Brigades rushed towards Villers Bretonneux that afternoon to not only stop the German advance, but to retake the town.

The significance of the pending anniversary was not lost on these Aussie troops as they fixed bayonets and waited in the darkness for the order to attack...

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Dr Aaron Pegram

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Welcome back to our podcast with former Australian Army Combat Engineer, Author, Paralympian Gold medallist and World Champion, Curtis McGrath. We previously learned of his near-death experience with a landmine in Afghanistan that cost him his legs.

In Part 2, we speak with Curtis about his road to recovery; not just physically, but mentally. Through his passion for sport Curtis approached every setback and challenge with courage, resilience, humour, grit and determination. This saw him compete in two Paralympic games where he won several gold medals. His is a truly inspiring story.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Curtis McGrath

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

In todays podcast Adam is joined by former Australian Army Combat Engineer, Author, Paralympian Gold medallist and World Champion, Curtis McGrath.

While serving in Afghanistan in 2012, Curtis stepped on a land mine, which resulted in life threatening injuries. Still conscious and aware he'd bleed out within minutes, Curtis, as the unit's chief first aid officer, calmly directed his comrades to apply tourniquets and administer an IV and morphine.

As Curtis was stretchered to a helicopter, fearing he would never see his family again, he joked that he would one day become a Paralympian. Against the odds, just months later Curtis was up and walking on prosthetic legs, motivated by the opportunity to march with his unit in their welcome home ceremony.

Kayaking gave Curtis a new sense of purpose and this saw him go on and win Gold in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. In 2021, Curtis stormed home to victory in the Tokyo Paralympic Games bringing home 2 more Gold medals.

Through his passion for sport and how it can transform lives, Curtis is ready to share his extraordinary story, and how he has approached every setback and challenge with courage, resilience, humour, grit and determination.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Curtis McGrath

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

It is the 80th anniversary of Kokoda this year and who better to have along to talk about that then Dr Karl James of the Australian War Memorial. Dr James will talk about his book, Kokoda: Beyond the Legend, and how the fighting in New Guinea from July through to November 1942 was some of the toughest of the Second World War.

The Japanese were rolling through the Pacific in early 1942 and seemed unstoppable. For the first time, Australia was virtually in the front line and experienced the effects of 'Total War' with the bombing of Darwin in February of that year. For many Australians, the threat of invasion seemed all too real.

But, just how significant was the battle within the Pacific theatre, and was Australia ever really in danger of a Japanese invasion? Find out as we talk about Kokoda: Beyond the Legend.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: Dr Karl James

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

In Part 3 of our chat with, former Royal Australian Army Medical Corps Sergeant McQuilty 'Coco' Quirke NSC, Coco will be talking about his long recovery after being blown up by an IED, and the determination he showed when cancer tragically affected his family.

By cultivating a positive mindset and developing resilience, Coco and his family got through that tough time together. He is now a motivational speaker, sharing his story to help others who face similar adversity. The future is bright for Coco and his family.

Presenter: Adam Blum

Guest: McQuilty Quirke

Editor: Kyle Watkins

Academic Adviser: Margaret Strike

Investigative Consultant: Adam Holloway