Military History Presentations

'BEYOND THE BATTLEFIELD' TALK SERIES

In 2023, the KTMW Board re-commenced their series of military history-related talks, which are now presented in a series called ‘Beyond the Battlefield’.

Aim

Presentations will have a military history focus, including the PNG/Kokoda campaigns. Many speakers will have published works on their topic, or will have detailed knowledge of the subject matter. As the series title suggests, the presentations will often examine issues, individuals or events beyond the battlefield, but conflict has impacted them nonetheless.

The talks are designed to encourage discussion and debate on military history, a field that is constantly re-examining past events, as new evidence, documents and the like emerge, allowing us to better understand the context in which they occurred.

Format

The talks are held in the Ralph Honner Kokoda Education Centre on Saturday mornings, and are approximately an hour in duration, which includes time for questions.

If you are a Friend of Kokoda (FoK) admission is free, while a small admission charge ($5.00) applies to members of the public.

Please arrive 30 minutes before the talk is due to commence to enjoy light refreshments.

See here for transport options to the Walkway.

Support from publishers

The Walkway would like to acknowledge the support of Simon & Schuster, Affirm Press and Big Sky Publishing for providing titles from their catalogues for giveaways at our talks.

RSVPs/Payment

Those FoK attending should email admin@kokodawalkway.com.au a week before the talk, while others should complete the below payment form and submit before the talk.

If you have any questions, comments or feedback/suggestions (after attending a talk) please contact us.

The talks are open to the public for a small charge, and free for ‘Friends of Kokoda’ (FoK) members.

View a flyer for the final three talks in 2025 here.

TALK SCHEDULE

Thank you to those FoK members and others who have attended our talks over the past two years – we appreciate your support!

2025 Update

The schedule for the remaining talks in 2025 is:

Saturday 14 June (10.30am): Ryan Butta. Adventurer, Digger, Spy – The many lives and tragic death of Harry Freame.
Saturday 9 August (10.30am): Dr Seumas Spark. The ‘Dunera Boys’ in Australian history and memory’
11 October (10.30am): Dr Tom Lewis OAM. Australia’s coastal war.
29 November (10.30am): Colin Burgess. Sisters in captivity – Australian Army nurses in Sumatra 1942-1945.

Download flyers for the talks from February to June and August to November.

Military History Presentation: Payment form

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2025 Talks: June to November

Use this form only if not a Friend of Kokoda (FoK). FoK should email admin@kokodawalkway.com.au if attending.

Name*

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Which presentation? (Choose all applicable)*

14 June: Ryan Butta 'Adventurer, Digger, Spy. The many lives and tragic death of Harry Freame'

9 August: Dr Seumas Spark 'The "Dunera Boys" in Australian history and memory'

11 October: Dr Tom Lewis OAM 'Australia's coastal war'

29 November: Colin Burgess 'Sisters in captivity - Australian Army nurses in Sumatra 1942-1945'

Please arrive 30 minutes before the presentation start time

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Name(s) of those attending. If a group indicate if any are FoK*

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Payment ($5.00/person if not FoK)*

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Thank you for your payment and for supporting the Walkway. We hope you enjoy the presentation! All monies raised are used to sustain the Walkway's educational and commemorative focus.

PAST PRESENTATIONS: IMAGES

The Walkway Board is proud to have hosted many prominent speakers at our ‘Beyond the Battlefield’ talk series, and we thank them for supporting the Walkway. We hope to see you soon at a future talk.