The author is Robert V. J. Padula,
OAM, of Mont Albert, Victoria, Australia. He was one of the first Victorian War Babies of the Second
World War, having been born on September 6, 1939, in Melbourne. On September 3, 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany.
Neville Chamberlain broadcast the announcement that the country was at war.
The author grew up in East Hawthorn
and .is a Chartered Professional Engineer, providing specialized consultancy services in International
Broadcasting Engineering.
He is a graduate of the
RMIT University (Communications Engineering) and Swinburne University of Technology (Astrophysics) and
holds the rank of Member, Institution of Engineers Australia.
He is a recipient of the Medal
of the Order of Australia (OAM) for Services to Shortwave Radio, and was employed by the PMG's Dept/ATC/Telecom Australia
from 1956 until 1997.
He also worked in the Radio
Australia Transmission Planning Group (Melbourne) between 1970 and 1990.
He has been actively involved
in bushwalking since 1954, and regularly undertakes short walks around Greater Melbourne and nearer country areas. He holds
qualifications in Bushwalking Leadership Skills.
His passion for digital photography,
4WDing along unmade roads, the exploration of parks, reserves, sanctuaries, coasts and mountains, support his interests
in the research of Victoria's history
