Deborah C Wheeler
2024 – COMING IN DECEMBER – Southern Downs Military History website. In May 2024, I received a Regional Arts Development Fund / Southern Downs Regional Council grant to build a dedicated website to house the military history of the Southern Downs. Updates on the progress of the project will be posted as they happen.
2024 – The Goondiwindi Region Register of War Memorials has been completed. Forty-three memorials were discovered during the three month project. Now we are looking to further this research and create an even more comprehensive collection of military history from this region. Updates on the new project will be posted once funding has been sourced. Click on the following link to view the The Goondiwindi Region Register of War Memorials.
Queensland Governor unveils my new Honour Boards at the Freestone Memorial Hall.
On Tuesday the 5th December 2023 Her Excellency the Honourable Doctor Jeannette Young AC PSM, arrived at the Freestone Memorial Hall to unveil the new World War One & Two Honour Boards I had been commissioned to create.
The children from the Freestone State School provided excellent entertainment for the official party, ladies and gentlemen who gathered for this very special occasion. Each and every child was presented with the Governor’s Medal. It was humbling to know something I had been involved in resulted in such a magnificent honour for the children.
The work I do is in a large way about teaching children the importance of our history and to learn, know and respect the men and women of the Australian Defence Forces past, present and future.
I would like to thank the Freestone Memorial Hall committee for entrusting this project to me. To the families of the servicemen I researched, thank you for your support. Knowing I have helped families of our Veterans makes the work I do so very worthwhile.
WE WON !!!!
Our documentary, ‘Second Generation ANZAC: Stories from the Battle of Crete’ went on to win the ‘Best Short Documentary’ category at both the Mykonos International Film Festival and the Mumbai Internation Film Festival. I am so proud of the effort everyone put into recording this documentary on the life of the late, great Alf Carpenter. Alf would have been really chuffed to know people thought so highly of him. His love and respect for the Greek and Cretan communities was very strong.
Jeff Hughes from This Story Australia has done the most amazing job of putting this documentary together and I must also thank Rupert McCall OAM for doing the main narration on the film.
DOCUMENTARIES
2023 Best Short Documentary awarded to Second Generation ANZAC – The Story of Alf Carpenter at Mumbai International Film Festival
2023 Best Short Documentary awarded to Second Generation ANZAC – The Story of Alf Carpenter at Mykonos International Film Festival
2022 Second Generation ANZAC – The Story of Alf Carpenter: Finalist – Kalamata International Short Documentary Film Festival
2022 Second Generation ANZAC – The Story of Alf Carpenter: Selected – Our Stories: Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival
2022 Second Generation ANZAC – The Story of Alf Carpenter
2022 Corporal Ziggy Gnojek, Polish Army
BOOKS by Deborah C Wheeler
2021 Silk Clouds & Olive Trees: Stories from the Battle of Crete
2018 My Pop was a Kangaroo ANZAC
2018 Kyoomba Sanatorium 1916-1935 Volume II
2018 Kyoomba Sanatorium 1916-1935 Volume 1
2016 Kyoomba Sanatorium – Set of 5 broadsheets
2015 Tales of a Military Medal Recipient and a Lancaster Bomber Rear Gunner
2015 I Remember in 2015
PRE 2015 – Written / Published
2007-2013 Australian Bowls Directory; 4 Ingredients Calendars 2009, 2010 & 2011; Mandurah Bowling & Recreation Club, Celebrating 125 years 1887-2012 Glen Aplin State School; Applethorpe State School Centenary 1911-2011; 100 years of school, Thulimbah State School 1914-2014; Travelling Bowler 2013-2023
