Joan Beaumont Knihy

The Australian experience of war in all its complexity - from the homefront as well as the battlefront - as the men and women who experienced it chose to understand and remember it.

The narrative explores how Australians, already reeling from the Great War and the Spanish flu, confronted the immense challenges of the Great Depression. With staggering unemployment and economic collapse, the nation faced national insolvency and social unrest. Despite the hardships, Australia’s democratic institutions and the resilience of its people prevailed. Many found strength in community and shared struggle, transforming despair into a narrative of survival. This comprehensive account offers a poignant look at a pivotal moment in Australian history.