The Victoria Cross is the highest award for acts of bravery in wartime.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And a stunning display depicting 15 of Australia’s 100 plus Victoria Cross recipients will be officially launched at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at HMAS Albatross this Thursday, March 8.
The work of renowned artist George Petrou makes up the exhibition The Victoria Cross.
Mr Petrou has spent many years researching World War I soldiers and Victoria Cross recipients both in Australia and overseas.
He has chosen to paint 15 Victoria Cross recipients, ranging from Australia’s first, Sir Neville Howse (Boer War) to our most recent, Cameron Baird (Afghanistan).
Mr Petrou, who has collaborated with the Fleet Air Arm Museum previously has endeavoured to project some of the recipient’s personality and achievements, before, during and after their time on active duty.
Read more: Lost Diggers of Vignacourt brought to life
The exhibition will remain on display at the Admiral Robertson Art Gallery at the museum until early July before moving to the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre during the Digger Day activities.
Special guest at the launch will be Keith Payne, VC, AM; one of the 15 subjects depicted in the exhibition.
Mr Payne is becoming regular in the Shoalhaven and has attended every Digger Day celebration locally and been guest at a host of other events. He is quickly becoming one of the area’s most popular visitors.
The exhibition also includes another VC with a Nowra connection, Joe Maxwell.
Maxwell is one of the Diggers featured by both journalist Ross Coulthart and Mr Petrou in The Lost Diggers of Vignacourt works but long before the lieutenant became the centre of attention for the journalist and artist, he had already had a Shoalhaven connection.
The VC holder was guest of honour at a Nowra gathering of Shoalhaven Diggers to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Anzac at the Nowra RSL in April 1965.
Read more: Joe Maxwell VC had a Shoalhaven link
Fleet Air Arm Museum manager and senior curator Terry Hetherington said the works in the exhibition were stunning.
“This is the second time the museum and George have collaborated to deliver an inspiring travelling exhibition like this,” Mr Hetherington said.
“This is the last of a series of events and exhibitions we have hosted to commemorate and recognise the Centenary of the Great War.”
Mr Petrou has previously provided a stunning collection of artworks depicting the Lost Diggers of Vignacourt
He also produced a portrait of the Royal Australian Navy’s highest decorated sailor, Warrant Officer Ben Sime MG, immortalising the Medal for Gallantry recipient which is on display at the museum.
One of his works also featured in the exhibition that brought the incredible story of Australian World War II pilot Fred Sherborne to life in a ‘An Accidental Hero’.
The Victoria Cross was instituted in 1856 by Queen Victoria and made retrospective to 1854 to cover the period of the Crimean War.
It is possible for any serving member of the armed forces to obtain this award.