Watercolour on ARCHERS 300gsm  cold pressed paper.

A depiction of my fathers WWII military medals and Australian Military Akubra, referred to as a 'slouch' hat. Surrounded by the symbolic red and black, 'Flanders' remembrance poppies. A sprig of Rosemary might have been an apt addition also, as that aromatic herb is a symbol of remembrance and grows wild on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkiye, where the original ANZACS served in WWI.

April 24th 2022, I couldn't sleep. I stopped trying, got out of bed and painted. 'Lest We Forget' was completed as the sun was rising in Nimbin, I darted out the door just i time to arrive in the village as the Last Post was being sounded,

Painted for my Dad, a complicated man who referred to himself as 'Roy Battler Wilson': and for my Mum too. A pragmatic and stoic woman. I had wanted to paint something to remember dad, I had painted 'Mum n Maggie' prior to mums leaving us a few months prior. Something  she had voiced, in the weeks before she died, stuck in my mind. 'I wonder if Dad will be forgotten' she said. Possibly a thought had gone through her mind that she may be forgotten too. Well I am here to say/paint, neither of them will ever be forgotten by me. I love and miss them both very much.

Did you know?

April 25th, is ANZAC Day, a Public Holiday across Australia. It is one of two days in Australia where we remember the effects of war and the people who were part of them. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corp.

Before dawn, communities across Australia gather at memorials. As the sun rises, the lone bugler is heard and 2 minutes silence ensues. Breakfasts are shared, and ANZAC biscuits are cooked, which were an original part of the army ration. The originals were square and apparently so hard you could break a tooth on them. thankfully the recipe was improved on and as a tradition we still cook them on ANZAC Day.

For many people a game of chance, called 2 Up is played. Generally illegal on any other day. People who never gamble another day in the year will join in a raucous toss of two coins, from a little timber pallete.

ANZACS were volunteers. Our Indigenous, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First nations people were not allowed to enlist in WWI. Many lied about their Aboriginality to enlist and their involvement, sadly, rarely recognised. More is being done to change this, with an estimated 1000 of an estimated 80,000 indigenous population served in WWI.

The other is the Eleventh day of the eleventh month, at the eleventh hour. A minutes silence is respected each year. Remembering those who left and never returned and those who returned and were never the same. In hope for peace.

Dad would have been 100 the year mum died and I made this painting.