Cultural historian Dr Steve Campbell-Wright will provide Wyndham residents with a rare glimpse behind the Point Cook RAAF base’s gates during a virtual event to be held next week.
The site became the first operational base of the Royal Australian Air Force, when it was founded in 1921.
Wyndham council is hosting the free online presentation to celebrate the Point Cook base’s 100th anniversary.
Dr Campbell-Wright, who has served in the air force for more than four decades, said his talk would include images showing different stages of the base’s history.
He said the centenary of the air force was “an opportunity to mark the service and sacrifice of previous generations and show what the RAAF base is about”.
“Significant things happened on the base and it is great to share its history with the community,” Dr Campbell-Wright said.
“Now there is restricted access (to the base), but I want share my knowledge – open the gates and let people hear about the past and what happens inside the base.”
Dr Campbell-Wright said the Point Cook base underwent many changes, particularly during World War I and II.
“In World War II, it was closed to the public entirely for four years,” he said.
“It was like a mini-lockdown for four years as the base operated independently and was separated from the outside world.”
Dr Campbell-Wright also described Point Cook as “the most haunted RAAF base in Australia”.
His online presentation will be held 7-8pm on Wednesday, October 13.
Bookings required via www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/whats-on/raaf-point-cook
