Deborah C Wheeler
NEWS UPDATE: 2026
Southern Downs Rats of Tobruk
I am delighted to announce the Southern Downs Rats of Tobruk virtual memorial was completed in July and is now available for viewing on the Memorials page. This memorial was made possible through an SDRC/RADF grant.
Myself and the team at Southern Downs Military History were proud to partner with the Dalveen Sports Committee and the Yelarbon ANZAC Day Committee. Both organizations received grants to have the records of their WWI veterans researched, digitised and uploaded to the sdmh.au website. The Dalveen project was completed in February and the Yelarbon project was completed in April. You can view the results for Dalveen and Yelarbon here.
2025 – SEPTEMBER
I am happy to announce the Greek language edition of Silk Clouds & Olive Trees: Stories from the Battle of Crete is now available.
To purchase your copy of the Greek edition click here.
To purchase your copy of the English edition click here.
2025 – JANUARY : Launch of the Southern Downs Military History website.
Sunday 12 January 2025 saw the official launch of the Southern Downs Military History website sdmh.au
This memorial website will continue to reveal the identities of local veterans from the Boer War to the present day. Discovering the identities and stories of those immortalised on military memorials will lead to a greater understanding of not only their stories but the impact their service had on the local community.
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. 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.
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.
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 International 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.
WEBSITES by Deborah C Wheeler
2025 Southern Downs Military History website
2020 Kyoomba website
DOCUMENTARIES by Deborah C Wheeler
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
