News from the Room
Every ANZAC Day, I think about marching beside my Nana and Papa.
They both served in World War II.
My Papa was part of the Royal Australian Survey Corps.
My Nana served in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAF).
Different roles, same sense of duty.
My Papa spent the war mapping terrain for military strategy—surveying positions and creating maps that could save lives.
No drones. No satellites. Just sharp pencils, heavy equipment, and steady hands under pressure.
My Nana served in a force that supported the RAAF—helping keep communications, aircraft operations, and logistics running.
She was part of a generation of women who stepped up in ways they'd never been asked to before, and did it with quiet strength.
Both of them came home.
But like so many who did, they never really unpacked the war.
Grief was something they carried, not something they spoke about.
Silence was common.
Even now, it still is.
Even with everything we understand about trauma and mental health—many soldiers come home and keep it in.
Not because they don’t feel. But because it’s hard to know what to do with it.
And in many cases, no one ever showed them how.
I once read a line that stuck with me:
“They came home in one piece, but they weren’t whole.”
It’s a reminder that surviving and healing are not the same thing.
Grief is not the enemy.
It’s proof that we were changed.
That we witnessed something worth mourning.
That grief is the price we pay for the love we choose to hold dear.
That’s what ANZAC Day means to me now.
It’s memory and legacy.
It’s service and sacrifice.
It’s knowing that the weight of war doesn’t end when the battle does.
And it’s teaching our kids why it all matters.
At Room Eleven, that’s our work.
We talk about what others avoid.
We honour stories, even the quiet ones.
We create space to grieve, to grow, and to hold onto love—especially when it hurts.
This week, we honour my Nana and Papa.
And every other person who served, who carried the weight home, and who showed us what resilience really means.
Lest we forget.
The 411
This Week at Room Eleven
Room eleven: Digital
Before I founded Room Eleven as a social enterprise – built to bring grief and resilience education to the world through the lens of lived experience – there was Room Eleven Digital.
I started Room Eleven Digital during the COVID lockdowns as a side project. It was a digital media business, focused on creating e-learning materials, as well as 2D and 3D animations for clients.
Now, Room Eleven Digital has evolved into the creative and social media arm of Room Eleven. Most recently, we’ve collaborated with LN Consulting Australia – an executive coaching business – to co-host a podcast exploring topics like career planning, managing toxic workplaces, and how to influence effectively at work.
This collaboration has also deepened what Room Eleven can offer.
Through LNC’s network of psychologists, we can now connect bereaved individuals and families with access to professional counselling services – both virtual and in-person – covering:
Stress and anxiety
Depression and mental health
Grief and life changes
Vicarious trauma and crisis recovery
Building resilience and mental wellbeing
All LNC psychologists are fully qualified and registered with AHPRA.
Producing this podcast has also given me the headspace to map out the long-awaited Grief, Growth & Resilience podcast – our next big step. Watch this space.
What I’m watching: Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing
I threw this on in the background while working on some video edits… and found myself watching the whole miniseries (3 episodes).
The documentary follows the rise of kid influencers on platforms like YouTube and TikTok – children turned content creators, often managed by their parents, amassing millions of views (and dollars) while navigating a world with little to no regulation. It’s a deep dive into what happens when childhood meets the internet fame machine, and how dangerously blurred the lines between parenting, profit, and privacy can become.
Even though social media has been around for more than two decades, it's still very much in its infancy – especially when it comes to legislation. There are no child labour protections for kidfluencers. No laws stopping parents from spending the money their children earn. And so many adults – including those in charge of policy – either don’t understand how these platforms work or don’t see it as urgent enough to address.
That lack of awareness creates a perfect storm where kids are exploited in plain sight – often with their parents right there beside them, not even realising the damage being done.
This doco was a stark reminder of why it’s so important to stay up to date with emerging media. If your kids are living in that social media age – or about to enter it – you owe it to them to understand the ecosystem.
Not to fear it, but to be equipped to guide them through it safely.
Quote I’m Pondering: "Nothing binds like pain shared."
This line was spoken by the protagonist Darrow, in Red Rising, the book I mentioned in last week’s issue.
It resonates a lot with me and I would assume others who have experienced baby loss. In the world of bereaved parents, you can meet someone with whom you have nothing else in common — different lives, different stories — and yet there’s an immediate, unspoken bond. Shared pain strips everything back to what’s real. It builds a connection that doesn’t need words.
This week, as we also reflect on the legacy of ANZAC Day, that same truth echoes. The ANZAC legacy isn’t just about bravery or sacrifice; it’s about the unbreakable bonds formed through hardship, grief, and resilience. Those who lived it are connected by something deeper than history — they are connected by shared pain, and by the strength that can grow from it.
It’s also at the heart of Room Eleven’s work: finding strength and solidarity in the spaces that pain leaves behind. Not to glorify the hurt, but to recognise that healing often begins with connection.
New Tech: RØDE Wireless Microphones
These sleek little mics have completely levelled up how I record with two people on the go.
I tested them out this week for the new LNC Podcast and was genuinely impressed – the sound quality is solid enough for both video and audio podcasting. They’re wireless, ultra-compact, and look great on camera. No more hauling around bulky wired gear (though there’s still a place for that setup too).
Now I can set up and record from almost anywhere – no mess, no stress, just clean audio wherever I need it.
Looking back over this week, what stands out most is how much can evolve from small beginnings. Room Eleven started as a side project during lockdown, and it’s slowly grown into something that feels more purposeful – through partnerships, podcasts, and the ongoing work of finding better ways to support others.
If there’s one reflection to leave you with, it’s this: the landscape keeps changing – in tech, media, and in life – and we don’t have to have all the answers. But staying open, paying attention, and learning as we go can make a real difference, especially when it comes to being there for the people we care about.
If this newsletter resonated with you, I’d be really grateful if you passed it on to just one person who might find it helpful too. Thanks for reading, and for being part of this with me.
See you next week!
Rob
Giving Back
Donate a Still Billie Box
Our care packages for families who’ve lost their baby, named after our baby daughter Billie. Offering comfort during what should be a joyful season. Your donation can make a real difference in allowing us to provide free Still Billie Boxes to hospitals across Australia.
Room Eleven is a social enterprise business and does not qualify for DGR status.