Dr. Kathryn Spurling is a renowned storyteller, military historian, and advocate for women’s rights, particularly within the Australian military. Her personal experiences of harassment and dismissal in the Royal Australian Navy drove her to champion the rights of women in service, becoming a strong voice for those who suffered in silence. Through her academic work at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), Kathryn supported countless women, providing a safe space to share their traumatic experiences and advocating for change at the highest levels of the military.
Her efforts extended internationally, as she spoke at conferences around the world, exposing the toxic military culture and pushing for greater accountability.
Kathryn’s work also delves into the darker aspects of peacekeeping, where she uncovered widespread sexual abuse by United Nations Peacekeepers. She has lectured internationally on the need for zero tolerance policies toward exploitation within peacekeeping forces. As an accomplished historian and author, Kathryn has published several works that humanise the experiences of those affected by war. Her books, such as Cruel Conflict: The Triumphs and Tragedies of HMAS Perth and Fire at Sea: HMAS Westralia 1998, expose both personal stories and systemic failures, shedding light on overlooked aspects of military history.
Beyond the battlefield, Kathryn continues to explore themes of abuse of power in Australian society. Her latest book, Bureaucracy, Bankers, and Bastards: A Farmer’s Story, examines bank fraud and its impact on Australian farmers. She has also celebrated trailblazing Australian women in her self-published work Inspiring Australian Women, furthering her commitment to telling the stories of unsung heroes. Through her research and advocacy, Kathryn Spurling continues to challenge injustice and raise awareness about vital social issues.
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Controversy surrounds combat roles for women
The Government has announced women will be allowed into elite front-line military units if they pass stringent physical and psychological tests. Kathryn Spurling spoke on ABC Lateline
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Kathryn Spurling served with the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). She completed an honours degree in History at the Australian National University and a Masters Degree with Honours and a PhD in military history at University of New South Wales (UNSW). Between 1996 and 2011 Kathryn was attached to School of History, and then the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, UNSW, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, where she tutored history and strategic studies.
In 1999 she organised the Women in Uniform: Perceptions and Pathways Conference the first of its kind in Australia, and edited the book of the same name.
Subsequently Kathryn was the first Australian invited to speak at NATO headquarters, Brussels, on the subject of women in the military; and the first Australian Summer Military History Fellow at the United States Military Academy (West Point). Kathryn was appointed to the ACT Veterans Council, by the ACT Chief Minister in 2011. At the beginning of 2012 Kathryn was appointed Visiting Scholar, School of History, Australian National University.
She has lectured and published extensively within Australia and internationally on military history, peacekeepers, and women in the military. Her book, Cruel Conflict: The Triumph and Tragedy of HMAS Perth I (New Holland) was dedicated to her late husband Cmdr Nigel Patrick John Spurling (RAN Rtd) and was launched by Minister for Defence onboard HMAS Perth III in October 2008. A Grave Too Far Away: A Tribute to Australians in Bomber Command Europe (New Holland) was released in October 2012, and dedicated to her late father, FO Maxwell Norris, RAAF, a WOP/AG on Halifax bombers during WWII. Her book Inspiring Australian Women will be launched in September 2013 and The Mystery of AE1 and Crew will be published in time for the centennial commemoration of the loss of Australia’s first submarine on 14 November 2014.
Marking Time: Women in the Australian Defence Force and Standing Room Only for Heroes are two future projects.
More about Kathryn Spurling
After completing her PhD in military history, Dr. Spurling embarked on an academic journey, teaching and tutoring history and strategic studies at UNSW at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. Her expertise and contributions to the field led to her appointment as a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in 2011, and subsequentlyWelcome to the world of Dr. Kathryn Spurling, an esteemed historian and writer with a remarkable focus on military biographies and the enduring impact of war. Driven by her unwavering passion for history and her meticulous attention to detail, she has authored numerous books that delve into the lives of those who answered the call to fight, exploring their service, sacrifice, and the lasting effects on their families and future generations.
Dr. Spurling hails from a military background, with her father serving in WWII with Bomber Command in the RAAF. Following in her family’s footsteps, she joined the Women’s Royal Australian Navy (WRANS) after completing her studies, and later married the late Cmdr Nigel Spurling, a RAN engineering officer. Their elder son also followed in their footsteps by serving as a RAN engineering officer.
After completing her PhD in military history, Dr. Spurling embarked on an academic journey, teaching and tutoring history and strategic studies at UNSW at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. Her expertise and contributions to the field led to her appointment as a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in 2011, and subsequently as an Adjunct Research Associate at Flinders University from 2014 onwards. Notably, Dr. Spurling was the driving force behind the inaugural Australian conference on women in uniform, aptly titled “Perceptions and Pathways.”
With a particular focus on the individual experiences in war, women in the military, and United Nations Peacekeeping, Dr. Spurling has been a sought-after guest lecturer worldwide. Her accomplishments include being the first Australian to lecture at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on women in the military, as well as being awarded a summer visiting fellowship at the United States Military Academy (Westpoint). She has also delivered keynote speeches at the Women in Uniform Conference in Washington D.C. on four occasions, and has been a keynote speaker at the Australian Women of the Year National Congress. Additionally, Dr. Spurling has shared her expertise at the Danish Defence College, the Chief of Defence Force Conference on Women in Security and the ADF, the Crime and Justice Challenges for the Contemporary Military Conference in Onati, Spain, and many more prestigious events and commemorative addresses.
Dr. Spurling’s contributions to the field of military history have been widely acknowledged, establishing her as an esteemed authority and captivating speaker on the subject. Her books have garnered praise from both readers and critics for their captivating narratives and meticulous research. In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Dr. Spurling is deeply committed to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of historians and writers. Her work has made significant contributions to the study of military history and has advanced the wider field of historical research.
Dr. Spurling has also made notable appearances in the media, including on programs such as The Drum, Four Corners, ABC news, Insight, and WIN news. She has been a frequent guest on radio interviews, both commercial and with renowned organizations such as the BBC and ABC. Most recently, she featured on “Brunch 15 minutes” with ABC Adelaide on April 19, 2023.
In collaboration with Ghetto Media, Dr. Spurling is set to release a documentary in May 2023 titled “Fire at Sea: HMAS Westralia 1998,” delving into the experiences of survivors and the families affected by the tragic event, which still holds unanswered questions regarding the loss of four lives.
Dr. Spurling’s published works showcase her diverse interests and expertise. Some of her notable books include “Women in Uniform: Perceptions and Pathways” (co-edited with E. Greenhalgh), “Cruel Conflict: The Triumph and Tragedy of HMAS Perth 1,” “A Grave Too Far Away: A Tribute to Australians in Bomber Command Europe,” “Inspiring Australian Women,” “The Mystery of AE1: Australia’s Lost Submarine and Crew,” “HMAS Canberra Casualty of Circumstances,” “Abandoned and Sacrificed: The Tragedy of the Montevideo Maru,” “Fire at Sea: HMAS Westralia 1998” (winner of the ACT Writers and Publishing Award), “Bureaucracy, Bankers and Bastards: A Farmer’s Story,” “Fury to Hell,” and “Light Horse to Australian Flying Corps: Too many battles for one Man,” scheduled for publication in 2023 by New Holland.
Through her exceptional body of work, Dr. Kathryn Spurling continues to shed light on the invaluable service and sacrifice of those who have fought in wars, ensuring their legacies are not forgotten by the very authorities and communities they served as an Adjunct Research Associate at Flinders University from 2014 onwards. Notably, Dr. Spurling was the driving force behind the inaugural Australian conference on women in uniform, aptly titled “Perceptions and Pathways.”
With a particular focus on the individual experiences in war, women in the military, and United Nations Peacekeeping, Dr. Spurling has been a sought-after guest lecturer worldwide. Her accomplishments include being the first Australian to lecture at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on women in the military, as well as being awarded a summer visiting fellowship at the United States Military Academy (Westpoint). She has also delivered keynote speeches at the Women in Uniform Conference in Washington D.C. on four occasions, and has been a keynote speaker at the Australian Women of the Year National Congress. Additionally, Dr. Spurling has shared her expertise at the Danish Defence College, the Chief of Defence Force Conference on Women in Security and the ADF, the Crime and Justice Challenges for the Contemporary Military Conference in Onati, Spain, and many more prestigious events and commemorative addresses.
Dr. Spurling’s contributions to the field of military history have been widely acknowledged, establishing her as an esteemed authority and captivating speaker on the subject. Her books have garnered praise from both readers and critics for their captivating narratives and meticulous research. In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Dr. Spurling is deeply committed to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of historians and writers. Her work has made significant contributions to the study of military history and has advanced the wider field of historical research.
Dr. Spurling has also made notable appearances in the media, including on programs such as The Drum, Four Corners, ABC news, Insight, and WIN news. She has been a frequent guest on radio interviews, both commercial and with renowned organizations such as the BBC and ABC. Most recently, she featured on “Brunch 15 minutes” with ABC Adelaide on April 19, 2023.
In collaboration with Ghetto Media, Dr. Spurling is set to release a documentary in May 2023 titled “Fire at Sea: HMAS Westralia 1998,” delving into the experiences of survivors and the families affected by the tragic event, which still holds unanswered questions regarding the loss of four lives.
Dr. Spurling’s published works showcase her diverse interests and expertise. Some of her notable books include “Women in Uniform: Perceptions and Pathways” (co-edited with E. Greenhalgh), “Cruel Conflict: The Triumph and Tragedy of HMAS Perth 1,” “A Grave Too Far Away: A Tribute to Australians in Bomber Command Europe,” “Inspiring Australian Women,” “The Mystery of AE1: Australia’s Lost Submarine and Crew,” “HMAS Canberra Casualty of Circumstances,” “Abandoned and Sacrificed: The Tragedy of the Montevideo Maru,” “Fire at Sea: HMAS Westralia 1998” (winner of the ACT Writers and Publishing Award), “Bureaucracy, Bankers and Bastards: A Farmer’s Story,” “Fury to Hell,” and “Light Horse to Australian Flying Corps: Too many battles for one Man,” scheduled for publication in 2023 by New Holland.
Through her exceptional body of work, Dr. Kathryn Spurling continues to shed light on the invaluable service and sacrifice of those who have fought in wars, ensuring their legacies are not forgotten by the very authorities and communities they served.