South Australia’s Oldest WWII Veteran

The state’s oldest surviving World War II veteran, Willaston resident Sid Ey, had his story told in state parliament recently to mark his 102nd birthday. Light MP and Shadow Veterans’ Affairs Minister Tony Piccolo highlighted the gentleman’s birthday as he believes his story has the potential to promote our town’s history to younger generations. For full story click here.

Thomas Jefferson’s Slaves

“Two-and-a-half months had passed since Velma Williams’ 96th birthday on July 4, 2016, but never one to let her age get to her, she wanted to celebrate the occasion by driving cross-country from her home in Oakland, California, to Charlottesville, Virginia. Along the way, she’d stay at her cousin Nancy Ann’s apartment in New York City and then head south to her cousin Ruth’s in Richmond, Virginia.  Together, the three cousins would present themselves at the International Center for Jefferson Studies in Charlottesville to be interviewed by researchers from Getting Word, an oral history archive for descendants of Thomas Jefferson’s enslaved community. Ruth had told Velma something of the project, but Velma, whose primary research interest has always been military history, didn’t think much on it.” For full story click here.

Oral History of Franklin Expedition

It was Louie Kamookak’s knowledge of the oral history of his Inuit people that finally concluded the search for the lost ships of the expedition of Sir John Franklin.  Mr. Kamookak died of cancer in March. But the collection of the stories of his people, and their ancestors’ tales of the two British ships that sailed into their Arctic territory in the late summer of 1846, will continue.  For full story click here.

Interviewing Doctors

Dr. Allan Frost, a retired physician, has been recording interviews with other retired physicians about their medical experiences.  “The idea is to find out what was medical care like many years ago, how has it changed, how did they get here, because most physicians here come from somewhere else,” he said.  For full story click here.

Changes to Dining and Diet

The foods we eat and the ways we prepare and consume it have changed greatly since the middle ages, when historians claim breakfast was eaten only by the poor, sick and labouring classes and the main meals were at midday and in the evening.  For full story click here.

New Pakistan Museum

The first-of-its-kind National History Museum, which opens to the public on July 1, recreates the struggles and sacrifices that led to the creation of Pakistan through interactive digital media and bespoke art installations.  For full story click here.