Service, sacrifice spotlighted in new exhibition

Explore historical and contemporary perspectives on conflict, service and resilience when the brand new exhibition Garrison opens at Pinnacles Gallery this week.

Scores of artworks from the City of Townsville Art Collection have been curated to create this showstopping exhibition, highlighting the enduring impact of military history and its representation in art. Featured artists include Douglas Green, George Gittoes and Jon Cattapan.

The exhibition includes a piece titled Troops from Delta Company 2RAR from Mirwais Forward Patrol Base patrol near Chora, Afghanistan. LT Chris Thompson-Lang, engineer troop commander Delta Company pass locals on the street.

This photograph was taken by photojournalist Evan Morgan, who travelled to Afghanistan on assignment with Townsville Bulletin in 2011 alongside defence reporter Emily Macdonald to document the life of the mostly Townsville-based Australian soldiers serving in the Uruzgan Province.

The photograph was first shown at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in Morgan’s 2012 exhibition Afghanistan: Mateship and Sacrifice.

In writing about the photograph, which shows a soldier walking past two locals and a mule, Morgan said soldiers based in Afghanistan lived on the cusp between every day life and responding to critical incidents.

“Some [of the soldiers] served at Multi National Base Tarin Kot as mechanics keeping the Bushmaster armoured vehicles on the road, others were nurses or looked after IT, logistics or simply sorted the mail with messages from home,” he said.

“For five days we went to Mirwais Forward Operating Base, sharing digs with soldiers from Delta Company 2RAR and troopers from 2/14 Light Horse and B Squadron 3/4 Cavalry who manned the Bushmasters and Australian Light Armoured Vehicles. Then came the message that rocked Tarin Kot: ‘Incoming Mass Casualties’.

“On the morning of October 30 a rogue Afghan National Army soldier mowed down 10 Australian soldiers. Four days later the base held a ramp ceremony for mates to say farewell to three fallen soldiers - Lance Corporal Luke Gavin, Corporal Ashley Birt and Captain Bryce Duffy. They had made the ultimate sacrifice.”

The photograph is just one of more than 60 pieces that showcases the impacts of conflict and the resilience of those who serve our country.

Townsville Mayor Nick Dametto said it was a timely exhibition as we approached Anzac Day.

“As the nation’s largest garrison city, the unwavering sacrifice of our servicepeople is front and centre of Townsville’s collective conscience. This exhibition is a reflection of mateship, the memory of conflict and the lived experience of war,” Cr Dametto said.

“I would highly recommend visiting Pinnacles Gallery to see Garrison and reflect on the artists’ perspectives of war and honour our local military personnel.”

Garrison will officially launch this Friday with speeches starting at 6:30pm. No bookings are required.

Garrison will be exhibiting at Pinnacles Gallery from Saturday 28 March to Sunday 7 June. Entry is free.