Ahead of Remembrance Day, the Returned and Services League of Western Australia is telling the untold stories of the nation's modern service personnel through a poignant and personal lens.
Through the Lens of Service
The powerful new display, titled 'Bondia', features a collection of photographs taken by the men and women who served. These images offer a raw and intimate glimpse into military life for the generation of veterans known as The Fourth Wave.
While some pictures capture the expected danger and intensity of deployments, many others reveal the everyday moments that defined their service. The collection includes a touching image of a snoozing explosive detection dog named Flojo, a photo of two smiling soldiers, Pte Lekkisha Duncan and Cpl Donna Haigh, in East Timor in 1999, and a shot of a troop commander in Iraq in 2003.
Defining the Fourth Wave
This cohort encompasses veterans who served from 1999 to approximately 2015. Their service includes major deployments to East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands, as well as domestic operations and UN peacekeeping missions.
They follow in the footsteps of the First Wave (World War I), the Second Wave (World War II and Korea), and the Third Wave (conflicts including Malaya, Borneo, and Vietnam).
RSL WA chief executive Stephen Barton emphasised that the Fourth Wave is now the largest cohort of veterans in the country, making this exhibition a vital initiative to reflect their unique experiences and ensure their stories are remembered.
Exhibition Details and Viewing
The public will have the opportunity to engage with this important piece of modern Australian military history. A total of 18 works will be on display at Anzac House, with the exhibition running from November 12 until April.
This visual narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the diverse faces of service and the complex realities faced by Australia's most recent veterans.
