Story: Island of Heroes: Christmas Island’s Wartime Legacy
Episode: 21
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 22 June 2025

Trevor uncovers the surprising secrets of Christmas Island—a tropical paradise steeped in wartime history, heroic tales, and mysteries that stretch from the jungle to the depths of the sea.

• Christmas Island was discovered on December 25, 1643 by British sea captain William Mynors, who named it after the day he sighted the island.
• During World War II, Christmas Island was occupied by Japanese forces in 1942, marking one of the few times Australian territory was taken by a foreign power.
• Christmas Island is an Australian external territory located about 360 km south of Java and 1,400 km northwest of mainland Australia.
• It is world-famous for its red crab migration, where millions of crabs move from the jungle to the sea, a natural spectacle once described by David Attenborough as one of the most remarkable wildlife events.
• The Christmas Island Tourism Association (CITA), established in 1996, operates from the Visitor Information Centre and works to promote tourism across the island.
• CITA has completed the "Strive for Sustainability Scorecard," highlighting its commitment to advancing sustainable tourism on the island.

For more information, head to:
christmas.net.au