A superb exhibition honouring Shoalhaven’s Aboriginal servicemen and women is on display at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre and Regional Gallery.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
More than 300 people attended the official opening of the In Memory photographic and multimedia display recently.
The exhibition provides first hand and family members’ accounts of the Shoalhaven’s Aboriginal servicemen and women’s involvement in conflicts from the Boer War right through to the recent war in Afghanistan.
Event co-ordinator, Shoalhaven Council Aboriginal community development officer Margaret Simoes, said the exhibition detailed the proud and often little known history of Aboriginal people’s contribution to Australia’s military efforts.
“It is really important for us to have our people recognised and our stories told,” she said.
“It started with us compiling a list of local Aboriginal World War I veterans, of which we have eight. Through research we discovered we have had indigenous service personnel in every conflict from the Boer War to the modern day.
“Yet we knew little about this history, and many Aboriginal servicemen and women’s stories have failed to surface or receive the recognition they deserve.
“We have been so lucky that so many local families have been willing to come forward and tell their stories and share their precious items.”
Ms Simoes paid credit to Mollymook resident Annette Twyman, a former educator at the Australian War Memorial and National Gallery, who helped compile the information and interview many of the families to gain their stories.
Many well-known local names feature in the exhibition such as Brown, Longbottom, Ardler, Dixon, Cruickshank, Scott, Wright, Luland, Stewart, Page, McLeod and Sharman just to name a few.
One of the many great photographs is of James Scott and his son Cyril, along with another father and son Con and Ron Edwards taken while they were serving in the 2/23rd battalion depot in Albury, Victoria.
Cyril’s daughters Carol McLeod and Linda Moore spoke proudly of their family’s inclusion in the exhibition.
“This is a great thing to see our people recognised for their service,” Mrs McLeod said.
“A lot of the old people didn’t talk about what happened in the war. It was never mentioned.”
“This exhibition gives us the chance to understand what went on,” Mrs Moore said.
“It makes us extremely proud and excited to see them recognised.”
Another of James’ sons, Albert, saw service in New Guinea and was badly injured in a battle.
He was initially cared for by the New Guinean people and kept out of the hands of the Japanese, before being taken to a field hospital.
Back home, though, his family had been informed he was missing in action and presumed dead, only later to be told he had survived.
The In Memory exhibition runs at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre until October 11.