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In this moving special edition of The Grief Ocean Podcast, producer Kellie takes the reins to interview her father-in-law Keith, a proud Vietnam Veteran, in honour of Anzac Day.

Keith shares heartfelt reflections on the meaning and importance of Anzac Day, his own experiences serving in Vietnam, and the deep pride he felt for his father, who also served his country. Spanning generations of service, sacrifice, and remembrance, this powerful conversation offers personal insight into courage, family legacy, and the enduring spirit of those who served. It also gently explores the often-unspoken grief carried by veterans and their families—the grief of trauma, loss, silence, and the lasting impact war can leave across generations.

Keith also speaks to the heartbreaking reality many Vietnam veterans faced on returning home, often met with misunderstanding, silence, and being left to their own devices to carry what they had endured, alongside the grief of leaving families behind and the complex emotional toll of returning to life after war.

Amid this, he reflects on the enduring power of friendships formed in service—the deep bonds between fellow veterans, and how these connections have often been a vital source of strength, understanding, and survival long after the war ended.

A particularly moving part of this family’s ANZAC story is Keith’s son (Kellie’s husband), Leigh, who last year marched alongside his father, pushing Keith in his wheelchair due to health challenges. Leigh also carried and wore his grandfather’s medals, sharing in a powerful intergenerational moment of remembrance. Moments like these reflect how the next generations continue to honour, remember, and keep the ANZAC spirit alive through lived connection, presence, and shared remembrance.

A deeply touching and meaningful episode, created to honour all veterans and their families this Anzac Day.

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In our season finale, we’re closing with a conversation that gets right to the heart of what this podcast is all about — the power of connection in grief, and how deeply we need one another when life cracks open.

Today, I’m joined by the lovely Aimee, who generously shares her story of losing her mum — not only her mother, but her very best friend. Her loss reshaped her world in ways she’s still learning to understand, and in this episode, she opens up about what those early days looked like, the moments that helped her simply survive, and the unexpected truths grief revealed along the way.

We talk about the ache of secondary losses, that surreal feeling when the world keeps spinning while yours stands still, and the pressure to be “okay” long before you truly are. Aimee also shares how grief has changed the way she sees life and herself — and how connection, community, and a few unexpected relationships have become a lifeline in her healing. One of the most beautiful parts of her journey has been finding a deeply meaningful bond with Cody, who also lost her mum. Their shared experience created a connection that has held them both through some of the hardest moments — a reminder that sometimes the people who enter our lives during grief become anchors we never knew we needed.

Together, we explore the quiet ways she honours her mum in her day-to-day life, the rituals that help keep her close, and the message she’d offer anyone who feels like they’re drowning in early grief.

This conversation is tender, honest, and full of the kind of truth that helps us breathe a little easier. Aimee reminds us that even in the darkest moments, connection can hold us, steady us, and slowly guide us forward.

Thank you for joining us for this season, and for being part of this community. If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who may need it or connect with us over on The Grief Ocean community page.

Until next time — take gentle care of yourselves, and each other.

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In this episode of The Grief Ocean Podcast, we dive into a powerful and often overlooked aspect of grief—the collective kind that lives within communities. I’m joined by Julian Canny, director and creative force behind Euphorium, a vibrant collective dedicated to building big-thinking communities through creativity, play, and co-creation.

Julian works at the intersection of imagination and social change, helping communities unlock their creative potential so they’re better equipped to face challenges, navigate transitions, and imagine new possibilities together. From festivals and trainings to grassroots projects, Euphorium’s work is rooted in one belief: creativity can liberate culture.

Together, we explore how grief emerges not only in our personal lives but also within the changing identities of the places we call home—whether through economic disruption, cultural shifts, or the fading of shared stories and traditions. Julian offers a thoughtful lens on how naming communal grief can help communities honour what’s been lost, create space for renewal, strengthen resilience, and imagine what comes next.

In our conversation, Julian shares a powerful insight he’s learned through his work: "the ability to collectively grieve is a skill we will need for the future" .

To find out more about Julian and his teams amazing work with communities you can visit:

https://www.euphorium.com.au/