The PR Blog

While Britain danced in the streets and Europe breathed a collective sigh of relief, Australians, New Zealanders, and Americans knew the fight was far from over. VE Day, 8 May 1945, was not the end -  it was the beginning of a countdown to a different kind of victory, thousands of miles away in the jungles and islands of the Pacific. This is the story of two victories, two moments of hope  -  and the long shadow between them.

On the 8th of May 1945,  Church bells rang, flags flew, and people danced in the streets. Nazi Germany had surrendered. Across Britain and Europe, a long, brutal chapter was closing. For millions, Victory in Europe Day -  VE Day -  meant the beginning of peace, the return of sons and daughters, and the hope of rebuilding a continent left in ruins.

But for the nations of the South Pacific, the war was not over. Australia, New Zealand, and the United States received the news with joy.... yes..... but also with clenched jaws and a sense of unfinished business. For us, the enemy that had bombed Darwin, attacked Pearl Harbour, and pushed deep into Southeast Asia was still fighting.

The war against Japan would rage on for three more bloody months. VE Day was a welcome, but wary victory.

It began quietly.

No headlines. No protests. Just a story... odd, intriguing, almost heartwarming. I clicked play on a documentary expecting nothing more than a curious tale of coincidence. Strangers, reunited. Laughter, amazement, and hugs.

But by the end, I was sitting in stunned silence.

The deeper truth behind their reunion wasn’t joyful.

It was horrifying.

It unraveled something in me.

And once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it .... not just in their lives, but in the world around me.

In May 1942, as Japanese forces surged southward across the Pacific, Australia stood on the brink.

With the threat of invasion looming and the port of Moresby in enemy sights, the nation held its breath. What followed in the waters of the Coral Sea was a battle unlike any before -  fought not by dueling battleships, but by aircraft launched from distant carriers. In a high-stakes clash that changed the course of the Pacific War, Australian and American forces turned back the tide.

The Battle of the Coral Sea wasn’t just a military engagement; it was a moment when Australia’s fate hung in the balance, and the Allies stood firm.The Battle of the Coral Sea is regarded by some as the action that saved Australia in WW2.

When a nation loses its voice, it turns to memory.

In these strange days, when truth feels rationed, pride is punished, and we’re told to smile through the shambles, we look not to politicians, but to each other. This isn’t just a letter. It’s a lifeline, thrown from the heart of ordinary Australia to anyone still listening. If you’ve ever felt like a stranger in your own country, then maybe, just maybe, this was written for you.

We’re writing to you from the gutter. Not because we’ve lost who we are, but because we’ve been kicked here. Kicked by smooth-talking suit-wearers with global dreams and no backyard roots. While they toast each other in parliament and overseas palaces, we’re left staring at the price tags in the supermarket and wondering when Australia became a parody of itself.

In an era where technology dictates much of our daily lives, algorithms have become the unseen force steering everything from the power flowing through electrical substations to the posts we scroll through on social media. Or even how we may be persuaded to vote.

These complex yet often hidden formulas... used for everything from balancing power grids to deciding what content we see... are more than just calculations; they are the modern-day decision-makers.

But what exactly are algorithms, how have they evolved, and why do we need both the precision of machines and the wisdom of human judgment to ensure they serve us best? 

That is the question I wanted to answer and here is how it all started with a chance chat with my Mum...

When you cast your vote, you’re not just selecting a candidate; you’re choosing the kind of country we’ll wake up to on Sunday. This election isn’t about party colours or slick slogans -  it’s about truth, trust, and the very soul of Australia.

If you’re tired of being lied to, sidelined, or treated like a spectator in OUR own nation’s story, then show up and vote with conviction.

Because if we don’t draw the line now, someone else will draw it for us .... and it won’t be in our favour.

Tomorrow, we do more than mark a box,  we mark a moment. A moment when distraction, deflection, and spin must finally give way to truth, consequence, and courage.

Our forebears fought for it. We were raised to believe in it. But tomorrow .... are we going to give Australia away without even realising the gravity?