Doone Kennedy

Today we remember Doone Brewer, later known as Doone Kennedy, Lord Mayor of Hobart. She never forgot the innovative ways her mother found to combat the rationing during the war years.

Doone Kennedy audio file (MP4 23.95 MB)

Doone Kennedy audio script

75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War

Audio actuality

“Fellow Citizens, the War is over” — (The Hon J B Chifley, Prime Minister of Australia)

On the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War, Australia remembers Doone Brewer, who as a child had to endure the many shortages facing families.

Later she became Doone Kennedy, Lord Mayor of Hobart. She never forgot the innovative ways her mother found to combat the rationing during the war years.

Doone Brewer

I can remember not enough clothing coupons. With a family of six, it was quite difficult. And I can remember my mother, who wasn't terribly good at sewing, opening up flour bags. It was Peerless flour. It had a stencilled-on rising sun and she opened these bags up and she used to make us bloomers and she dyed them navy blue. And the elastic was very hard to get but the Peerless flour of Japanese flag rising sun never, ever disappeared with the dye. And when we bent over when we were playing sport, there was the rising sun. We didn't have a lot to do with Japanese, but it certainly made us a bit embarrassed when the other kids yelled out, "We can see your pants … and what's on them."

Saturday, August 15 marks the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War. Let’s pay our respects to that amazing generation of Australians.