Photography project reflects on WWII veterans

‘Reflections’ aims to photograph all living veterans who served in the allied forces during WWII, and is run by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography in partnership with the RSL and Australian War Memorial.

70 years after the end of World War II, veteran Jack Christie has unearthed his medals of honour to be photographed as part of the project.

Mr Christie, who is now retired and living at Retire Australia’s Tarragal Glen Retirement Village in Erina with his wife Winifred, is one of over 5,000 veterans across Australia who have been approached and says that he was happy to take part in the project.

“I thought it was a very good idea, and it brought back quite a few memories,” he says.

Mr Christie served in WWII between 1942 and 1945 as a wireless operator for the Royal Air Force Bomber Command, and the memories of wartime are still fresh in his mind. “I had a very close relationship with the other men on my crew,” he says.

“Everyone had a job to do and they all did it to the best of their ability.

“I was just glad I survived, and I put that down to the skill of my pilot, because if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

After the war ended, Mr Christie returned home to start a family and work in his printing business, but remained in close contact with his fellow Australian crewmembers for many years.

Unfortunately, the other members have now passed away, but Mr Christie hopes that his participation in the photographic project would have made his mates proud.

Although Mr Chrsitie doesn’t see himself as a hero and says that he “just did what [he] had to do”, ‘Reflections’ will provide worthwhile recognition for his service and a lasting memento for his family to treasure.

The photographs were taken by local photographer Cliff Kent, who was approached to participate in the project and has since travelled throughout the Central Coast to shoot dozens of portraits over several months.

Mr Kent says that he agreed to donate his time and resources without a second thought. “To date, I have photographed about 90 veterans with a few more to go.

“This is most likely the last time that many of these WWII veterans will be photographed formally,” he says.

“These photographs will be placed into book records at the War Museum in Canberra for future generations to see – a true record of many Australian heroes.”