from the publisher GREG T ROSS Hello and welcome to the latest edition of The Last Post. The Last Post Magazine has been praised nationally and internationally As my Facebook friends know, the life of an since it was launched in 2011 and is independent publisher can be a constant unravelling designed by Kirstie Wyatt from Wyatt of chaos with more outgoings than incomings, lovingly mixed with successful outcomes and Creative. contacts with Australians who are of a similar Kirstie is a freelance graphic and mindset to the philosophy of my magazine. web designer and can enhance There are times of tranquillity and times when it your marketing to get the results feels as though the whole world is conspiring to you want in your business. make your tasks harder than they need to be. Then there are times that are etched into 0419 035 000 the mind forever and will add to the memory [email protected] spool when recalling good events. Such was my trip to Japan earlier this year. It was part of the RSL National/Stephen Henderson organised visit under the Japan-Australia Grassroots Exchange Programme. To commemorate the visit and the progress made through face-to-face meetings, this special Japan-Australia edition of TLP covers as many areas possible that represent common ground for the two countries. We interview Australia’s military attache in Tokyo, Colonel Simon Monterola about the relationship between Australia and Japan and feature this editions Foreword from Australia’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr Richard Court AC. In this edition we also speak with director Catherine Hill about her work on the play Hallowed Ground and learn more about this arts-focused woman who directed her first play at 17. We also interview author Max Hastings about his book, Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy. When the names of significant Australian architects are mentioned, Bruce Rickards is always up there. A member of the Sydney school, Bruce’s work produced some of the most notable and recognisable houses of the period. We feature a two-page spread on Bruce and the book, A Life in Architecture. In Sport we speak with legendary sports commentator Bruce McAvaney about his fabulous career behind the microphone and, hot on the heels of Winx’s retirement, ask for his list of the top 5 horses to have raced in Australia. Also in Sport, Michael McDonald pays tribute to his friend and mine, the late Allan Aldenhoven. In my time knowing Allan, he was a kind, gentle man with good · The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) acknowledges the humour. But he was a boxer and a soldier and he died central role of the Navy protecting our vital sea lanes and in a police cell in 1979, six years after I last saw him. borders, in both peacetime and times of conflict In this, the amazing and international Issue 19 of The Last Post we look at domestic violence, the role · The MUA also acknowledges and salutes the role of of traditional masculinity, indigenous cricket and the merchant fleet in supporting the Navy and pays feature Charles Bean, The Western Front Diaries. tribute to the many civilian seafarers who have lost their lives in supporting the defence effort · The Navy and the domestic civilian fleet remain as active partners in supporting and facilitating Australia’s shipping dependancy as an island nation Greg T Ross G r egEditor and Publisher · The MUA looks forward to continuing to work closely www.thelastpostmagazine.com with Navy on the many synergies that exist in Navy operations and commercial shipping operations For more information go to www.mua.org.au foreword H. E. MR. RICHARD COURT AC AUSTRALIAN AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN Australia’s current bilateral relationship with Japan could hardly be stronger. We often tend to think of the modern relationship as being defined by trade and business ties, but it is perhaps the people-to-people links that are the true backbone of our strong partnership with Japan. Whether young Australians travelling to Japan as exchange students, to teach English or to ski, or Japanese studying or holidaying in Australia, so many of us have come away from these experiences with a lifetime affinity for the other’s country. It is this strong foundation of trust and respect that brings our two liberal democracies together as such natural partners, and our bilateral relationship continues to go from strength to strength. It would have been difficult for those of our parents or grandparents generations 70 years ago to imagine just how strong this bond between our two countries would become just decades after our young soldiers faced off against each other in bloody battles during World War II. My own father was an Army officer who served in the Pacific theatre. When the war ended in August 1945 he was involved in supervising the surrender and disarming of Japanese troops on Bougainville, working closely with Japanese counterparts. Many years later, he would again meet with some of them – this time over dinner in Tokyo. It was an emotional reunion and a very powerful symbol of reconciliation, after they had fought against each other in the jungles of Bougainville. My father went on to develop strong bonds with Japan in the years that followed and received an Imperial Honour from the Emperor. I commend Greg Ross and his team for providing us with this thoughtful insight into some of the more delicate aspects of our recent history with Japan. This edition touches on the stories of Australian soldiers interned in Japanese POW camps and Australians supporting Japan’s recovery during the subsequent occupation period, and gives a moving account of the 280 young Australians still interred in Japanese soil, at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Yokohama. But perhaps most importantly, it reflects on the strength of the bond that now exists across the breadth of our bilateral relationship – a model example of two former foes reconciled and working as close partners to promote regional security and stability, ultimately aiming to prevent a recurrence of the wartime suffering our forebears experienced. Lest we forget. Commemorate Special Offers our Anzacs To commemorate and pay homage to those who fought in the First World War, The Perth Mint has Honour their courage with the remarkable In Flanders Fields produced a unique and limited mintage series of coins 2oz Gold Coin and receive an End of WWI 100th Anniversary in pure gold and silver. The collection captures some 5oz Silver Coin free of the most prominent events in the nationʼs history. All coins are available to purchase in-store and online perthmint.com/100 The Australian War Memorial logo is a registered trademark of the Australian War Memorial TM & © 2019. 10% off this unique collector pack consisting of 2 limited edition silver coins commemorating 100 years of the Declaration and End of WWI MINT0075E-HP_210x148.5mm Anzac Spirit MagAd.indd 1 10/4/19 12:43 pm JAPAN / AUSTRALIA HEALTH 4 Japan 62 Interview with Professor Michael contents 6 The Diary of an independent Flood on the role of traditional publisher in Japan masculinity 7 POW Research Network 66 Women and Disadvantage 68 Emily Archer on domestic violence 8 Interview with Colonel Simon ‘The Last Post’ magazine is owned and Monterola, Australia’s Military and empowerment for women attache in Japan 70 Rock The Boat – National Elder published by GTR Publishing, 10 Japan-Australia Grassroots Abuse Conference a subsidiary of B4E Pty Ltd, Exchange Programme 72 Pancare Foundation 6 Way Ave, Myrtle Bank 5064 11 Yokohama Commonwealth War Cemetery 12 Cowra POW Camp TRAVEL MANAGING DIRECTOR 18 Cowra RSL Sub Branch 80 The Truth Behind An Urban Myth & PUBLISHING EDITOR 19 Professor Peter Drysdale – Reflecting on the genesis of 82 The Kokoda Youth Leadership Greg T Ross the post-war Australia, Japan Challenge – Luke Spajic relationship. 21 Ryozen Kannon – A temple built for ART DIRECTOR & world peace GARDENING 22 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Chris Latham – Serving 88 Reconciliation Kirstie Wyatt 0419 035 000 [email protected] ARTS SPORT 26 Gerwyn Davies 94 TLP Editor Greg T Ross interview Australia’s sporting commentator 28 Napier Waller Art Prize icon, Bruce McAvaney ADVERTISING 30 Brandnet – Expert advice about your 98 Little Harrow honours Johnny www.thelastpostmagazine.com organizations brand Mullagh, our first cricket legend by 32 Interview with Catherine Hill, director Tony Wright of Hallowed Ground 100 AFL SUBSCRIPTIONS 35 Coming Home – Beeb Birtles 102 “There is no skill in Australian Rules 36 Bruce Rickard – A Life in Football” – John Bois www.thelastpostmagazine.com Architecture 103 Remembering Allan Aldenhoven – www.isubscribe.com.au 40 Veterans Film Festival Michael McDonald www.magshop.com.au 42 Worth Listening To…Richard au.zinio.com Clapton by Dave “Doctor” Pepper 43 10 Songs by Jack P Kellerman 45 How Children Explore Emotion – ENQUIRIES Connie Boglis GTR Publishing 42 Broomfield Court FEATURES Long Beach 2536 NSW 46 Charles Bean – The Western Front 0419 165 856 Diaries www.thelastpostmagazine.com 52 The Great Escape by MaryAnne Special Offers Whiting and Peter Devitt Commemorate 54 Interview with Max Hastings, Author of Vietnam: An Epic Tragedy Cover: 60 Endangered Heritage – Lest We Miyajima Island in Hatsukaichi, Japan. Forget, Best We Protect our Anzacs Photo: Greg T Ross To commemorate and pay homage to those who fought in the First World War, The Perth Mint has Honour their courage with the remarkable In Flanders Fields produced a unique and limited mintage series of coins 2oz Gold Coin and receive an End of WWI 100th Anniversary in pure gold and silver. The collection captures some 5oz Silver Coin free of the most prominent events in the nationʼs history.