8 minute read
Of Service
By Jenani Therone
Of Service is an artistic response to the deep concern I felt watching media reports about the armed services and the subsequent storm of negative comments. I was alarmed to discover the number of veterans who felt so alienated that they took their own lives, and I knew the current debates were not likely to help. Many opinions were completely out of context and came from people who had never been in service or in a conflict zone.
It was from this that I committed to creating a fine-art publication of photographic portraits of at least 100 veterans to show their humanity and diversity beyond their role in the armed services. In-person meetings were conducted to complement each image. This allowed participants to tell their story and be heard. As the Of Service journey progressed, it took on a life of its own, providing a sense of community and healing. It highlighted the shared experience of veterans undergoing the transition into civilian life and gives insight into possible ways to navigate this change.
I had an initial discussion with each veteran by phone to make sure they understood the Of Service project and that there would be a resonant connection. Veterans had been asked to suggest a location for their portrait that may offer a deep association to themselves. In many cases, this includes an activity that is meaningful to them or companion animals with which they share a special bond.
It was always important to take an additional portrait of the veteran and myself together. This emphasised the relationships created by this time of sharing vulnerability, truth and wisdom. The conversations are being written into stories that can be easily read to complement the artwork. This will allow a glimpse into the sacrifices of service and the richness that has developed in civilian life.
The point of this work is to strip away the notions of politics and systems to focus on the individual and their journey. The participants have continually voiced how needed this project is, to gather stories of real life and affirm who a veteran is and what they bring to the community.
After 36 months, driving more than 34,000 km, and touching all states except the Northern Territory, the Of Service project is scheduled to be launched at the Shrine in June 2024. Here are just a few of the stories that will be featured.
Frederick Cullen OAM
Fred Cullen’s portrait shows him sitting in a pool of light against the shadowy backdrop of his indoor plants with his medals pinned proudly on his jacket and a thoughtful look on his bright face. At 102, Fred Cullen is one of a handful of veterans still here to tell his lively tale of service during the Second World War. He served in the 4th Australian Field Regiment in New Guinea and his story is one of miraculous survival, taking a sniper’s bullet to his head and being carried out of the jungle on a stretcher. He was one of the lucky ones to return to Australia and live a long and meaningful life with many descendants to amuse with his yarns. His passion for advocating and assisting other veterans led him to become the long serving president of the Ivanhoe Returned Services League for more than fifty years.
Fred’s story for Of Service was a chance for him to tell more details of his life than previously published accounts that focus on his wartime experiences. Beginning with foundation years in Shepparton when many houses still used kerosene lamps, to short stints earning money in the local boxing ring, to being offered a position as teacher for the education department, his stories offer a glimpse through history.
Fred joined the army as much for the pay rise and adventure as he did for the chance to serve his country that had gone to war. His post-war life continued in the theme of helping others and looking for new ways to learn and challenge himself. Fred became a perpetual student, graduating with degrees and diplomas in commerce, political science, public administration, organic chemistry and horticulture.
Fred ran a 100-acre orchard, developed a winery and advocated tirelessly for all the veterans he encountered. He says he still has something to give each day.
Susan Weeks
Sue came from a large family, some of whom were already in the armed forces, and so joining the army was like swapping from one family to another. Sue was a member of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps and she joined at a time when women were finally allowed to train in weaponry. Her four and a half years in the army were spent in communications, mostly performing secretarial functions. She left when she was expecting her first child as there was no way that she could look after a baby 3,000 kilometres from the nearest relative, doing shift work and with her army husband Ray spending six months away at a time.
Although she resigned from the army, she continued to be involved. This included going with Ray to the Solomon Islands where he advised their police force. She assisted the government by doing paperwork for the Defence Corporation Program. While there, she and a friend successfully started a catering company to provide food for government functions.
Sue’s Of Service portrait provides clues to the focus of her life after service with her sewing machine, surrounded by a myriad of coloured threads. Sue is now a skilful embroiderer, exhibiting her work widely and contributing to significant projects such as the richly decorated costuming for the Australian Ballet’s 2023 production of George Balanchine’s Jewels.
Her love of needlework began after leaving the army when she joined a Defence Wives group and ran playgroups and a specialised embroidery group. She now has a Masters of Embroidery in three medieval styles, and while this is not a university qualification, each one takes two years of study and completion of works for exhibit. She finds each project gives her the thrill of the chase until it is accomplished and she moves on to another. “I paint with a needle,” she explained.
Marcus McEwan
Marcus McEwan joined the navy at the age of 17 and spent time patrolling the seas for prohibited activity. At the age of 19, he was jumping on illegal fishing boats, encountering boats with asylum seekers, carrying firearms and making split second decisions. He had no idea of the implications of his experiences and found that many still had their effect on him decades later. Today, he views some of these desperate fishermen and asylum seekers in a more compassionate light as simply people trying to survive, but at the time, it was part of the job.
For Marcus, the best part of his time in the navy was working in a close-knit crew where everyone had each other’s back and looked after each other no matter how tired they were. He has had to accept that no civilian workplace will ever be quite like this. He has, however, found a group of committed members of the Returned Services League in Lara where he has recently been appointed president. He sees this as an opportunity to help change the stigma and public perception of what a veteran is by fostering new ties with the wider community. One such connection is with the Lara Football Club, where the veterans participated in a special Anzac Day march and service.
He has recognised the need for staying in contact with mates and offers that advice to younger veterans transitioning into civilian life. “Just because you do not pull on the uniform every day, it does not mean that the journey is over. You still have your good friends there, and look after them.”
The fireside is his special, almost sacred, place. He and his best mate have called it their bush television on many camping trips, but it also holds significance as a link to the eternal flame at the Shrine of Remembrance. He chose to be photographed in the dancing light of the fire for Of Service
Jenani Therone is an artist practising fine art photography. She has produced several unique series of imagery and essays to benefit society, namely A Closer Look, Land is Family, Passion at Heart and now, Of Service.
