Close Menu
  • Bayside News Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Saturday, July 5
Facebook X (Twitter)
Bayside News
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Police investigate Bonbeach collision
Breaking News
Bayside News
Home»News»Cafe name honours war author
News

Cafe name honours war author

Bayside NewsBy Bayside News15 February 2016Updated:29 February 2016No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Peace time: Artist Jeff Gilmour, left, and Yvens De Camargo catch up for a cuppa at Charlwood Cafe named in honour of World War II veteran and author Don Charlwood. Picture: Gary Sissons
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Peace time: Artist Jeff Gilmour, left, and Yvens De Camargo catch up for a cuppa at Charlwood Cafe named in honour of World War II veteran and author Don Charlwood. Picture: Gary Sissons
Peace time: Artist Jeff Gilmour, left, and Yvens De Camargo catch up for a cuppa at Charlwood Cafe named in honour of World War II veteran and author Don Charlwood. Picture: Gary Sissons

ONE of Frankston’s favourite sons has been recognised by having a cafe at Frankston Library named in his honour.

Cafe owner Yvens De Camargo decided to name the coffee shop after World War II veteran turned author Don Charlwood when he read about his wartime experiences and successful literary career.

“I thought ‘This guy is amazing. He’s like an unsung hero. We need to do something’,” Mr De Camargo said.

Long-time Frankston resident Mr Charlwood, who died in 2012 aged 96, flew in 30 bombing missions as a RAAF navigator in Lancaster bombers during World War II and he and pilot Geoff Maddern were the first 103 Squadron crew to survive a tour in nine months.

He later reflected that of the 20 men who had qualified as navigators with him, only five were still alive at the end of the war.

Mr De Camargo said Mr Charlwood’s widow, Nell, visited the library last week and was thrilled to see two portraits of her late husband on display.

“She told me she used to be a librarian,” he said.

After World War II Mr Charlwood worked as an air traffic controller at Melbourne Airport but also turned his hand to writing books and wrote 11 books including No Moon Tonight (1956) about his wartime experiences. His 1965 novel All The Green Year, about three boys growing up on the eve of the Great Depression, became a classic and was studied in high schools for decades afterwards.

Frankston mayor Cr James Dooley said Mr Charlwood’s legacy lives on through his books, including All The Green Year and Marching as to War.

“It is wonderful that the Library Cafe has been named after his honour. We hope that this helps to keep his name – and important works – alive for generations to come.”

See ‘Don Charlwood recalls utter futility of war’.

First published in the Frankston Times – 15 February 2016

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Bayside News
Bayside News

Related Posts

Tree milestone met

4 July 2025

Advocates celebrate abuse law change

3 July 2025

More money for emergency relief

3 July 2025
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click Here to Read

1 July 2025
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click Here to Read

3 June 2025
Property of the Week

34 Pine Hill Drive, Frankston

21 March 2025
Council Watch

Council considers LGBTQIA+ initiatives

11 June 2025

New conditions applied to grants

4 June 2025
100 Years Ago this Week

Baxter – On The ‘Wallaby’ with a walking group

1 July 2025
Interviews

Writing racecourse history

6 February 2024
Contact

Street: 1/15 Wallis Drive, Hastings, 3915
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915

Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Police investigate Bonbeach collision
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook X (Twitter)
© 2025 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.