Hidden in History is a weekly column that unearths the quirky, curious and sometimes eyebrow-raising tales from Shepparton’s past. Provided by the Shepparton Heritage Centre, these articles are rooted in fact — but told with a wink and a sense of humour.
In the same year representation was made by the British Government for Australia to hold a number of German and Italian prisoners-of-war.
The Federal Government agreed to this proposal and three POW camps were set up in the region.
Between 5000 and 8000 people were housed at the internment and POW camps at any one time in the Shepparton area, with about 200 staff employed to look after them.
Some of the Dunera Boys ended up at the Tatura POW camps, only to be housed with the German POWs.
The folly of this move soon revealed itself, and the two groups were hastily separated for obvious reasons.
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