THANKS to several recent books, films and television programs, the men and women who served at Bletchley Park, Great Britain’s central site for code-breaking during World War Two, have become quite famous. But did you know that Australia had its own version of Bletchley Park during the war, and that its influence on many battles in the Pacific was just as significant?
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David Dufty’s The Code-Breakers of Central Bureau is the story of those Australian code-breakers, and the book will be launched at Wagga Wagga City Library on Friday, October 20. This new historical account reveals a secret and little-understood side of Australia’s involvement in World War Two, featuring many lively personalities and previously untold personal stories. Dufty describes how Australians built a large and sophisticated intelligence network from scratch, and how Australian code-breakers cracked the codes of the Japanese army and air force. The secret intelligence they gathered played a vital role in the battles of Midway, Milne Bay, the Coral Sea, Hollandia, and Leyte.
Dufty, a Canberra-based writer and researcher, has the ideal background to write about ciphers and the people who decode them, having worked as a statistician and social researcher at the University of Memphis, Newspoll, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. His previous book, How to Build an Android, described modern developments in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Come to the library and hear the story that prompted Australian war historian Dr Michael McKernan to remark “Who knew? This enthralling study tells a deeply human story. The men and women who gave our troops a significant edge in the fight against the Japanese are the genuine heroes in this engaging and exciting book.”
This launch begins at 5.30pm on Friday, October 20, and light refreshments will be provided. Attendance is free, and copies of David’s book will be available for purchase.
EARLIER in the same month, at 5pm on Thursday October 12, the library is hosting, in conjunction with The Australian Red Cross and the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors, a free workshop on the question “What’s the real situation faced by people seeking asylum?” With so many differing views on people seeking asylum in Australia, and the treatment they receive, we invite you to join the conversation on this important and timely issue.
Bookings for both of these events are essential, so visit the library’s events webpage to reserve your spot, call 6926 9700, or visit the library and speak to any of the staff.
