A new self-published book celebrating local wartime heritage has been donated to Sandgate Historical Museum after its author was inspired by the area’s connection to World War II, particularly the former RAAF Sandgate Station in Brighton.
The book, PAAF the Pigeon’s Sandgate RAAF WW2 Flight, written and illustrated by Dr Deborah Cronau, explores life in Sandgate during the 1940s.
Deborah said she and her husband, Joe Soares, had lived in the area for many years, and yet they were not familiar with the extent of its WW2 history.
“We wondered how many others who love this community might also not know the amazing journey of 4017 during that time,” she said. “We decided to put together a short book about the wartime campus, travelling from its opening in 1941 until its closure at war’s end.”
The story follows the central character, PAAF (Pigeons Admiring the Australian Forces), as he leads readers through Sandgate’s history, visiting key locations including the RAAF station site in Brighton’s RAAF Park, where a memorial now stands, and the two remaining Sidney Williams Huts on 24th Avenue.
Deborah said that after reading about the area around 24th Avenue and its role during WW2, she and Joe decided to explore it themselves.
“Once a bustling village of men and women of the RAAF, now it is home to pigeons,” she said. “We laughed that pigeons once served in the military too, and so the idea of PAAF telling the story was born.”
A Community Tribute and Fundraising Mission
The PAAF character featured in the book was hand-knitted by Deborah’s mother, Shirley, and the book has been dedicated to her.
Deborah said her mother had spent her life volunteering and contributing to the community.
“Shirls was born the year that RAAF Sandgate opened, so it seemed like a lovely fit to dedicate this book to her in a milestone 85th year,” she said. “It is also dedicated to all those of that remarkable generation.”
Copies of the book will be donated to the Sandgate Historical Society as part of a fundraising effort for the museum, which Deborah said required urgent repairs.
“As you’d imagine, repair costs would have increased significantly with the cost-of-everything increases experienced this year,” she said. “The time and goodwill of volunteers can only go so far, so our family wanted to use our skills to publish a book that the museum can sell to help contribute to their fundraising.”
She added that she hoped the book would also help people reflect more deeply on Sandgate’s history.
“When you next look out to the bay, you might recall that, during their WW2 training, recruits took swimming lessons there,” she said. “When you walk past the Sandgate Town Hall, you might remember that, during the war, the basement there was used as a storage location.
“We hope the book will act as a trigger so when the reader is out and about, they will look at things in our suburb in a new, historical light and feel an enduring connection.”
Purchase PAAF the Pigeon and Dr Cronau’s other books here.
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