Stories from the heart JUDE'S WARTIME TREASURES

The broadcaster on adventures, love and letting go

- Sophie Neville

When mum-of-three Jude Dobson was in the thick of parenting life, the idea of an empty nest seemed very far away. But now, with her children Ella, 27, Jack, 24, and Rosie, 19, all living overseas, child wrangling is a thing of the past. Yet as she welcomes us into the Dobson family home in Auckland, Jude, 56, is quick to point out that life is certainly not quiet.

“I haven’t had time to feel lonely!” she laughs, confessing that the empty bedrooms left by the children are regularly filled with visiting friends. “Graeme calls me ‘Wendy and the Lost Boys’ because we always have people staying here, mainly old friends from when Graeme was in the Air Force. It’s good fun.”

But the main thing that’s keeping the former 5.30 With Jude host busy is her foray into Kiwi military history. In recent years, she’s developed a passion for telling veterans’ stories, helping to preserve history and honouring those who fought. Impressively, Jude recently won a bronze award at the New York Festivals Radio Awards for her audio documentary about WWII aviators. “It’s quite hard to believe,” says Jude, whose documentary aired on RNZ on Anzac Day last year. “I was just so thrilled I was able to give these amazing men a voice.”