Veteran honoured with life story for Remembrance Day

Cairns World War II veteran Arthur is set to receive his life story in time for Remembrance Day as part of a storytelling program.

The Bolton Clarke Farnorha resident has gotten to know social work student Raj over the last few months, who has put together Arthur’s story as a keepsake.

“I worked with Arthur and his family to put this book together as a bit of a tribute to his life and those lives he has touched as well,” Raj said.

“It was lovely to learn more about him and his life – it is a great way to learn from older people especially because like Arthur, they can have so much experience.

“It is my honour to present this work not just as a part of my placement project but as a gift to Arthur and his family.

“Arthur has now lived beyond a century and his life is teaching us what it means to live well, to love deeply and to give back quietly.”

The Life Stories Program aims to increase social connection for older people by reminiscing and sharing their life with students.  

For Raj, his work with Arthur has been special not only for him but Arthur’s family who have had the opportunity to share everything they know and learn a little more.

“We have filled the book with stories, memories and countless photos that capture Arthur’s journey from over a century,” Raj said.

The book explores Arthur’s early years growing up in Atherton before moving to Cairns as a teenager and starting work at the Carlton United Brewery in 1938 at the age of 14.

Like many young men of the era, he went on to enlist in the Australian Army at 18 and was sent to Papua New Guinea after training.

“I was sent to Greta in NSW for artillery training and I finished up as a 25-pounder gun layer in New Guinea for over three years,” Arthur said.

Arthur now reflects on how he believes his generation was privileged to be able to get through war but still grow up in a time of peace and opportunity.