Darwin Defenders

The society and its members principal aim is to ensure that the people of Australia will never forget those who protected their country when Australia was attacked in 1942.

They do this by means of a printed newsletter and a regularly updated website. Letters, photographs, articles and items of interest are gathered from various sources around Australia and used in their publication and information kits for schools. Using these types of media, the Darwin Defenders Society hopes to help younger Australians to appreciate the spirit and the sacrifices of those who suffered the hardships and the horrors of the Japanese bombings.

The Darwin Defenders also organise annual reunions and memorial services where friends and family alike can gather to compare thoughts and memories, to understand what happened and why, and to recall the comradeship which helped them to surmount the difficulties they endured at the time.

The Darwin Defenders secretary is Mr Rex Ruwoldt. Rex and two of his brothers volunteered for army service in 1939. Rex was stationed with the 19th Machine Gun Battalion in Darwin on 19 February 1942 and throughout the subsequent Japanese attacks. In civilian life he has been a farmer, engineer and company director in the manufacturing and building industries, and is now retired.

For more information you can visit the Darwin Defenders website.