TSLIB members featured in photo exhibition

BY ALF WILSON

AN exhibition featuring photographs of Indigenous Defence veterans at Townsville’s James Cook University will coincide with the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion.

The photos are part of the Serving Country Exhibition, each featuring a veteran, on display at JCU’s Indigenous Education and Research Centre on the Bebegu Yumba

Campus in Townsville.

Torres Strait Islanders including Marsat Ketchell, Pamela Bowie and Phil Bowie have their pics in the exhibition, and their names on a silk banner, which has the names of 28 First Nations People who joined the Defence Force.

They were: Alan Hamilton, Anne Dufficy (Army-TSI), Bertram Slape OAM, Bob Waterer, Chris Proud, Colin Watego OAM, Desmond Mayo, Edwin James Mimi, Frances Ah

Mat Visini (Navy-TSI), Glen James OAM, Helen Spinney, John Burns, Lorraine Hatton OAM, Marj Tripp OA, Mark Woodhouse, Marsat Ketchell (Navy-TSI), Natalie Whyte, Pamela Tapim (Navy-TSI), Patricia Lees AM), Phillip Bowie (Navy-TSI), Ray Rosendal (CSM), Rob Bryant, Robert Holt, Roy Mundine, Samuel Shepherd, Shirley Mooney, Stephen Dodd, and Tara Enchong.

The exhibition includes 200 photographs of Indigenous veterans which have been displayed around the country.

Waiben-born JCU Deputy Vice Chancellor, Indigenous Education and Strategy, Professor Martin Nakata said the exhibition was a powerful reminder of the service of Indigenous people across many generations in defence of Australia.

“The men and women featured in this display each have an inspirational story to tell that was forged by hard work, mateship and sacrifice,” he said.

Exhibition organiser Therese Cowley said the display was especially timely considering March 17 would mark the 80th anniversary of the raising of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion on Waiben during World War 2.

“We have many direct descendants of the Torres Strait Light Infantry living in Townsville. They were frontline soldiers and defended our northernmost borders from the Japanese during the war,” Ms Cowley said.

Ms Cowley has ties to the famed Battalion, as well as three family members currently serving in the Australian Defence Force. She said she had no doubt students would be emotionally moved by the portraits on display.

“Being able to unwrap each portrait and observing the medals each veteran displayed on their chest gave me chills,” she said.

“Just to see how far they’ve gone in their journey and what they’ve sacrificed to defend freedom in this country, it’s a powerful story.

“For the students, I hope it encourages them to follow their dreams and become our next generation of leaders.”

Professor Nakata said from conflicts in South Africa and Gallipoli through to Afghanistan and Iraq, Indigenous Australians have always been there to answer the call to defend our nation.

“We are honoured to host part of this exhibition at JCU and we hope the exhibition inspires our students,” Professor Nakata said. More than 200 veterans were photographed by Belinda Mason and Dieter Knierim for the exhibition, which has featured at various locations across Australia since 2014.

The banners will be rotated with others each month and will be on Waiben for Light Infantry Battalion celebrations in March.

Phone: Barry -0499 320