Category Archives: History

Remembrance poppies in Australia

Poppies on the Roll of Honour. Photograph taken by Kerry Alchin. PAIU2014/128.14

[Read the original of this text at: https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs/poppies/]

The Flanders poppy has long been a part of Remembrance Day, the ritual that marks the Armistice of 11 November 1918, and is also increasingly being used as part of Anzac Day observances. During the First World War, red poppies were among the first plants to spring up in the devastated battlefields of northern France and Belgium. In soldiers’ folklore, the vivid red of the poppy came from the blood of their comrades soaking the ground. Continue reading

Getting to Know: Gordon Keatch

Gordon-and-sons_6098Gordon Keatch

One of our favourite people, Gordon Keatch, has retired as our intrepid “getting to know” columnist. In his letter of retirement, Gord wrote that his monthly column in The Southern Yarn about getting to know members was “a most rewarding and interesting experience”.

We are looking for someone to take over the column, but first we thought we’d let you all “get to know” Gord a little better. Continue reading

Yarn March 2014

1279-Yarn2014 _ 03-MarchThe 2014 issue of The Southern Yarn is now available for you to download.

Inside you will find some fascinating stories of early aviation history down under, an interview with The Ashworths as well Murray Burt’s collection of Commonwealth news (anyone want to buy property in Kiribati?) and our regular sections.

Go to the Yarn page, or use this direct link to the PDF.

Continue reading