A SERIES of portraits honouring surviving South Australian World War II veterans will remain on display at the Main Corner Complex until next week.
The exhibition was officially closed on Monday with a morning tea attended by around 50 community members, followed by a screening of the 1958 classic war film Dunkirk.
Guest speakers Eric Arthur OAM and Charlie Miller OAM reflected on their service during World War II and paid tribute to fallen comrades.
“I thought today I could talk about some of the joyous and ecstatic moments in a service career and some of the tragedy,” Mr Miller, a former spitfire pilot, said to a captivated crowd.
“The spitfire was the most wonderful aircraft ever built, but the fun of flying spitfires and the tragedy of war lived side by side.
Mr Arthur recalled a number of occasions he narrowly escaped death or capture and reflected on the mateship between fellow soldiers.
He navigated a Pathfinder Mosquito bomber during 44 operations for the RAF’s 627 Squadron.
Mr Arthur’s portrait is among the 40 displayed at the Main Corner Complex.
Main Corner venue coordinator Talie Teakle said the exhibition was part of the larger ‘Reflections’ project launched on Anzac Day 2015.
“The ‘Reflections’ project saw more than 5000 portraits taken of surviving World War II veterans from across Australia,” Ms Teakle said.
“In South Australia alone 1500 portraits were taken by 30 South Australian professional photographers.
“We have around 40 on display upstairs and in the Main Corner foyer and through to South Link, which is the glass corridor area that faces the cave gardens.”
The portraits displayed in the South Link corridor are visible to passers-by 24/7.
“It was wonderful to have Eric and Charlie share their experiences – when you look into the eyes of the veterans in these portraits you can see they all have stories to tell,” Ms Teakle said.
“We have extended the exhibition so it will be open for another week.”
