The history of Remembrance Driveway

The oral history outlines the decision by the Remembrance Driveway Committee to honour the Australians who were awarded the Victoria Cross for acts of valour and extraordinary personal courage during the Second World War and Vietnam, by establishing roadside rest areas and memorial parks along the route in their honour.

The oral history of The Remembrance Driveway is based on 38 hours of digitally recorded interviews with 19 individuals - current and former members of the Remembrance Driveway Council, local historians, landscape designers, and an eminent military historian who provides background information on the circumstances surrounding the gallant actions of each of the 24 VC recipients.

You can download the audio files in MP3 format at no charge from this page.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in the oral history interviews are those of the individuals concerned and do not necessarily represent in whole or in part the position of Transport for NSW.

Audio files - MP3 format

Complete audio file - Remembrance Driveway and VC Rest Areas

CD Case Cover artwork

CD insert - About this oral history

1. Introduction/Australia Ave/Margaret Davis/Blue Star Highways [6:28]

2. First Remembrance Driveway Committee/Royal Visit [5:59]

3. First plantings/Garden Clubs of Australia involvement [4:20]

4. Public participation/Southern Highlands plantations [4:46]

5. Sir Cecil Hoskins/Bank of NSW sponsorship [5:16]

6. Garden Clubs/Roads and Maritime Services sponsorship/maintenance challenges [3:51]

7. Changes in the route/by-passed groves [3:54]

8. VC Rest Areas [5:14]

9. Remembrance Park, ACT/VC winners dedications [5:47]

10. Remembering Partridge VC dedication/the Victoria Cross [3:39]

11. Maintenance problems/loss of trees/changing emphasis [5:41]

12. Public recognition/signs/future Committee role [2:52]

13. RAAF Association groves [5:03]

14. Future of Remembrance Driveway/Final comments [1:32]

1. Military historian Anthony Staunton [3:37]

2. Partridge VC [2:08]

3. Mackey VC [2:18]

4. Kingsbury VC [1:28]

5. Derrick VC [2:25]

6. Kibby VC [2:01]

7. Edmondson VC [1:51]

8. Badcoe VC [2:10]

9. Wheatley VC [1:55]

10. Payne VC [1:26]

11. Newton VC [2:35]

12. Edwards VC [2:52]

13. Kelliher VC [2:17]

14. Rattey VC [2:14]

1. Simpson VC [3:04]

2. Starcevich VC [2:01]

3. Middleton VC [2:46]

4. Anderson VC [2:56]

5. Gurney VC [2:10]

6. Kenna VC [1:55]

7. Gratwick VC [1:33]

8. French VC [1:39]

9. Chowne VC [2:03]

10. Gordon VC [1:45]

11. Sir Roden Cutler VC [7:50]

Share this page: