Serving Country

Compiled by Belinda Mason and Dieter Knierim from Blur Projects, this is a photographic exhibition (with accompanying personal stories) depicting dozens of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have served in the Australian Defence Force. The photographs are beautiful, the stories often revealing, but the very occasional references (we found about five from more than 200 people) to First Nations warriors defending Country but not serving in the ADF (that is, references to the Frontier Wars) are guarded and wary. They are, of course, entitled to be that way if that is the feeling of the people speaking. The website has an introduction from Governor-General David Hurley, who notes that 'Australia’s First Nations peoples have a long tradition of serving in the Australian Defence Force'. The Department of Veterans' Affairs is one of eight Supporters of the exhibition.