John Meldrum has authored ‘A Journey Shared: Mateship, Malaya and Me’, with proceeds from the sale of the book being donated to MND NSW.
His book is available for sale here.
John’s wife Dawn Meldrum has been a volunteer with MND NSW for many years. Her best friend sadly passed away from MND.
John and Dawn came into the MND NSW office recently to present us with $1,445 raised from the sales of John’s book - thank you for you amazing efforts in supporting families facing MND!
About John’s book, ‘A Journey Shared: Mateship, Malaya and Me’
From the crowded streets of post-war Annandale to the steaming jungles of Malaya, A Journey Shared: Mateship, Malaya and Me follows John Meldrum’s transformation from a restless Sydney teenager into a disciplined young soldier.
Raised in a working-class family shadowed by hardship and a heavy-drinking father, John sought freedom and purpose in the Australian Army.
What began as an escape from the confines of home became a coming-of-age adventure - from gruelling training at Kapooka and Ingleburn to the camaraderie and chaos of service abroad with 2RAR.
Immersed in the heat, culture and danger of 1960s Malaya, he learned the true meaning of mateship, courage, and resilience - not against an enemy, but against fear, fatigue and self-doubt.
Told with warmth, humour and honesty, this memoir captures an era when duty called ordinary young Australians to distant lands, forging bonds that would last a lifetime.
Meldrum’s reflections on friendship, loss, and the quiet triumphs of post-service life reveal a man who never lost sight of the lessons learned under khaki - self-reliance, teamwork and the importance of giving back.
A heartfelt tribute to the forgotten Malaya veterans and the enduring Australian spirit, A Journey Shared is both a soldier’s tale and a story of becoming one’s own man.
