Indigenous Stories

The Memorial is honoured to be able to share the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

A lasting friendship

Pamela Tapim and Frances Visini have been the best of friends since childhood. Born and raised on Thursday Island, the two Torres Strait Islander women went to school together before joining the Royal Australian Navy in the 1970s, forging a friendship that continues to this day.

Under the Kaiser's Crescent Moon

Two Indigenous Australians spent the last year of the Great War at an unlikely prisoner-of-war camp in Germany.

David Burrumarra: an unforgettable man

David Burrumarra would often parade around his community dressed in military costume, sporting a pith helmet, and proudly displaying his medals.

'Gunner' Curley: a woman with a dream

Elizabeth Anzac Lorraine Curley was born on Anzac Day 1925. The significance of the date was not lost on her parents. They gave her the middle name Anzac in memory of those who had served during the First World War and had landed on Gallipoli in April 1915. She went on to serve during the Second World War.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women answer the call to service

The Australian War Memorial has recently added the names of 69 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to the list of Second World War contributions and service.

“Please send me some more snaps…”

For Gunditjmara brothers Private Henry “Harry” Saunders and Captain Reginald “Reg” Walter Saunders, printed photographs of loved ones were precious objects while they were serving a long way from home.

Remembering 'Tracker' Murphy

Archie Murphy would sit in the yard outside his corrugated iron hut in Goodooga, NSW, polishing his leather boots, and his bridle and saddle. When the young girl next door would ask him where his horse was, his eyes would fill with tears.