A call has gone out to all World War II veterans to assemble in East Maitland next week to be photographed so their portraits can be gifted to the Australian War Memorial’s collection.
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The project is one of the most ambitious ventures ever undertaken in this country by members of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography.
Called The Reflections: Honouring Our World War II Veterans, the project will provide a compelling pictorial record of returned servicemen and women living in Australia, said Vivian Hayles of the Institute.
“Veterans in the Maitland region who have not yet registered for this project can do so on Tuesday, July 21, at the RSL Hall in 222 Newcastle Road, East Maitland, between 10.30am and noon,” Ms Hayles said on Wednesday.
“All veterans who served in the war are eligible, wherever they served.
“Everyone is welcome and they should be in neat, clean attire, with a blazer or jacket optional.
“People with medals are preferred, but this is not critical.
“They will need to supply their Defence Force ID number.”
Ms Hayles said they wanted to locate every surviving veteran from World War II.
“There are 3000 veterans currently registered, but we know there are still many more out there,” she said.
“Taking quality portraits will enable a lasting memory of these servicemen and women for themselves, their families and the nation.”
East Maitland veteran Mostyn Bailey, 96, has already registered.
“I joined the RAAF in 1941 after a recruiting train pulled into Coffs Harbour where I had been delivering oil,” he said yesterday.
“I thought it was the right thing to do then – and it would also be the right thing to do today,” Mr Bailey said.
“I was a gunner/radio operator on Boston bombers flying over New Guinea and they called me the ‘lethal kid’ on the Browning machine guns.
“We had some very bad times flying through Japanese anti-aircraft fire, but I was lucky.
“Now I feel really honoured my photograph is to be taken and given to the Australian War Memorial.”
