Looking Back - 1939 to 2011 - the Autobiography of Robert V. J. Padula, OAM

1944 - Growing up in the War Years - Part 3

Home
1941 - Bikes and Cars
1943 - Hiking - Hills and Coasts
1944 - Growing up in the War Years - Part 1
1944 - Growing up in the War Years - Part 2
1944 - Growing up in the War Years - Part 3
1945 - Auburn schooldays - Part One
1945 - Auburn Schooldays - Part Two
1945 - Auburn Schooldays - Part Three
1945 - Upwey and the Puffing Billy
1945 - Gramaphones and Record Players
1946 - Flinders St Station
1946 - Astronomy
1946 - Beach and Swimming Adventures
1946 - Going to the Pictures
1947 - Adventures at the Altona Bungalow
1947 -The Listener-In Magazine
1947 - Balwyn WIldlife Sanctuary
1948 - Fishermen's Bend Aerodrome
1948 - Radio Australia QSL cards
1948 - Excursions
1949 - Australian Rules Football
1949 - Radio Monitoring at Auburn
1950 -Trains and Ships
1950 - Radios for Communications
1950 - Radio Listening Clubs in Australia
1950 - World Radio TV Handbook
1950 - Shortwave Radio Propagation Research
1950 - Medium Wave Radio Propagation Research
1950 - Radio and Hobbies Magazines
1950 - Discovering shortwave radio at Auburn
1951 - Photography
1951 - Competitions on local radio stations
1952 - Camp Buxton - YMCA Shoreham
1952 Tennis and Ten Pin Bowling
1953 - Stamp Collectiong
1953 Camberwell High School
1954 - Royal Visit to Melbourne
1954 - Shortwave Radio reception at Auburn
1956 - Melbourne's Olympic Games
1956 - Trainee Telecommunications' Technician
1957 - Trainee Technician - field work
1957 - National Service Registration
1958 - Laverton Air Show
1958 - MOOMBA Parade
1958 - Trainee Technician - field work
1959 - The move to Mont Albert
1960 - Working at Deepdene Telephone Exchange
1963 - Trade Unions, Staff Associations, Industrial Relations
1964 - Senior Technician work in the Melbourne CBD
1964 - Project support for Radio Australia
1964 - Amateur Radio
1964 - Media Writing
1964 -Travels
1964 - Engineering Support for International Broadcasters
1965 - Professional Employment with PMG/Telstra
1967 - Professional Qualifications - Institution of Engineers Australia
1967 - Australian Radio DX Club Photo Gallery (to 1979)
1972 - Wireless Institute of Australia
1972 - Natural disasters in Melbourne
1980 - Australian Radio DX Club Gallery (to 1995)
1981 - Award of the Medal of the Order of Australia
1995 - Padula Books
EPILOGUE
LINKS TO AUTHOR'S PERSONAL WEBSITES
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEPENDENT BIOGRAPHIES
SPECIAL CHAPTER - Oldtime Australian Radio Drama from the 1930s
SPECIAL CHAPTER - Radio Monitoring Clubs in Australia - 1920 to 1949
SPECIAL CHAPTER - Melbourne Picture Theatres - History - 1906 to 1970

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1942 - digging trenches in Melbourne

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1942 - air raid precautions - Melbourne command centre

AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS IN MELBOURNE
 
The centralisation of industrial and port facilities in Melbourne meant the city was deemed particularly vulnerable to aerial enemy attack. Anti-aircraft guns were installed at Maribyrnong, and by early 1942 more than 60 000 people voluntarily carried out Air Raid Precautions (ARP) duties.

Melbourne boasted an array of civil defence bodies, ranging from paramilitary-style groups to more informal training sessions in first-aid and firefighting organised by schools, workplaces and municipal councils.

Civil defence was initially the responsibility of the State Emergency Council (SEC), supported from 1941 by the federal Department of Home Security. In January 1942 the SEC was replaced by seven special committees under the direct control of Premier Albert Dunstan.

Melbourne was strategically divided into 11 sections, each with an area warden and first-aid post. A communications hub was established at Russell Street police headquarters; if telephone lines were cut, Boy Scouts were to deliver urgent messages by bicycle.

Communal air-raid trenches scarred urban parks, and many families built air-raid shelters in suburban backyards. Sandbags were piled against city shop windows to minimise damage from shattered glass, and the brownout was enforced by ARP patrols.

Despite elaborate evacuation plans, few people fled the city; the rural re-establishment of some metropolitan schools was due to building requisition. Civil defence activities were important in maintaining morale during the war's 'crisis' period, but ARP equipment was in short supply, and city-wide air raid drills were not a success. By 1943 enthusiasm for ARP work had waned.
 
In 1945, I can remember the trenches which had been dug in the parklamds in South Melbourne - these were about 2 metres deep and invariably became waterlogged and muddy after rain.
 
In the 1970s, there was an air-raid bunker just outside of Glenferrie Station next to the Owen Building.It was later demolished when Swinburne University expanded. The sign "Air Radio Shelter" remained in place well into the 1980s.
 
 

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1942 - air raid precautions Melbourne - testing siren

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1942 - Melbourne - air raid alert - Bourke St

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