Diverse faces of veterans on display

An event acknowledging more than 30 local artists and defence personnel will be held next week.

Rockingham Arts Centre will play host to 42 pieces of art in the Portrait of a Veteran project from July 24 to 28.

A special Meet the Artists event will also be held on July 27 from 5pm, where community members will get the chance to talk with those involved.

The project, organised by Comet Bay College defence transition mentor Claire Hunt, first began at the start of the year with professional and student artists joining forces to depict the many faces and different types of people who serve in the armed forces.

The exhibition was first unveiled at the college’s annual Anzac event and will go onto the Rockingham Library in September, before being displayed in St George’s Cathedral for a Remembrance Day Service later this year. Artist Lesley Austin said she was happy to be part of the project.

“It’s amazing for the kids at the school to be involved and see artists and it’s great to see them embrace the arts and how they can raise awareness for different causes,” she said.

Navy veteran David Powles said it had been a great experience.

“The veteran isn’t the old man walking down the street or tending to his garden. The veteran comes in all shapes and forms — this project highlights where we all come from and where we go to,” he said.

“I thought it was only right to tell the stories I have. We need to pass on what we know to the younger generation and keep it going ... when I saw it, it felt really good and I ended up giving copies to my mum and grandma as well.”