Collected: Stories from the Australian War Memorial Australian War Memorial

Collected: Stories from the Australian War Memorial explores artefacts in the museum of the Australian War Memorial. Join journalist Louise Maher over twelve episodes and take a closer look at the obscure, popular, strange and wonderful items in the collection. Louise peels back the past, highlights the history and uncovers the stories that the public don’t always get to hear.
In this episode Louise looks at Australia's official copy of the Treaty of Versailles currently on display as part of the After The War exhibition.
In conversation with Memorial curators Kerry Neale and Anthea Gun Louise explores the history of the treaty and the important role Australia played in its signing. Drawing on related artefacts from the collection, first hand accounts and historic material to bring the story to life. 
 
 

Episode two - A mother's love and memory
Episode two explores the different ways mothers have dealt with the grief of losing sons in war. In conversation with Memorial curators Kerry Neale and Stephanie Boyle, Maher discovers the significance of a gold brooch and a tin of biscuits currently on display in the Memorial's After the war exhibition.

Episode three - The Bushmaster
Episode three examines the innovative design and overseas deployment of the Australian-made Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle. In conversation with Memorial curator Nick Fletcher, and through the oral histories of Australian service personnel, Maher explains how this much-loved vehicle transports combat troops over rugged terrain and saves lives in war zones.

Episode four reveals the history and meaning of tattoos in the Australian Defence Force. In conversation with curator Stephanie Boyle, Canberra tattoo artist Peter Bone and through oral histories, Louise Maher shares the ways servicemen and women, their loved ones and veterans have inked their skin in commemoration, pride - or just to pass the time. 

Music has the ability to express feelings and ideas in simple, relatable ways; it has the capacity to bring people together and galvanise the spirit. So it should come as no surprise to discover that music of all kinds played an important role in the First World War.

In Episode 5 of Collected Louise Maher talks to Senior Curator, Theresa Cronk and the Memorials Artist in Residence, Chris Latham about the music, the composers and the social impact.

Reverse-painted glass framed photographs are a rare and fragile part of the Memorial’s collection.
The Memorial has the largest-known collection of these unique portraits in the world.
In episode six of Collected Louise Maher talks to Curator Joanne Smedley about these works and the exhibition currently on display at the Memorial.
In conversation with art conservator Janet Hearne, Louise gets an insight into the delicate challenge of preserving these precious artefacts.