The gum leaf wreath artwork by Nina Kelabora is inspired by the late Aunty Dot Peters AM, who laid a gum leaf wreath at the Shrine each year.
The colours of the leaves are the same as those found in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, together with Army khaki and the Naval and Airforce blues. Individual leaves, sitting side by side, proudly represent Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal soldiers who have served and continue to serve as equals in the Australian Defence Force.
Aunty Dot Peters' wreath
Reproduced courtesy the Peters family, Nina Kelabora and First Peoples State Relations
There's more to this story:
Arthur Wellington
Trooper Arthur Wellington’s paternal grandparents were Jaadwa/Jardwajali people from the Wimmera region of Victoria.
George Wellington
George Wellington, of Jaadwa/Jardwajali heritage, was married and working as a labourer when he enlisted for the First World War in August 1916.
Benjamin Wellington
Gunner Benjamin Wellington, of Jaadwa/ Jardwajali heritage, served with the Light Horse militia in Gippsland for eight years; he rose to Corporal prior to enlisting for the First World War in 1914.
Daniel Hodgkiss
Private Daniel Hodgekiss, a Ngarrindjeri man from Port Willunga, South Australia enlisted in Mildura, Victoria, in 1916.
Herbert Murray
Gunditjmara man, Sapper Herbert Murray (front centre) is pictured with members of the 3rd Tunnelling Company, or ‘earwiggers’ as tunnellers were known.
William Reginald Rawlings
Private Bill Rawlings, was a Gunditjmara man born at the Framlingham Mission Station in Western Victoria
Daniel Cooper
Private Daniel Cooper was a Yorta Yorta man from Cummeragunja Aboriginal Reserve in NSW.
George Terrick
Private George Terrick, a Taungurung man from the Coranderrk Aboriginal Mission Station near Healesville, Victoria, enlisted in the 14th Australian Infantry Battalion in January 1916
Samuel and Alice Lovett
Private Samuel Lovett, 2/5th Australian Infantry Battalion, and his niece, Aircraftwoman Alice Lovett, Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) followed in their family tradition when they enlisted for the Second World War.
Wally and Connie Alberts
Wally served with the 4th Anti-Tank Regiment, The Royal Australian Artillery during the Second World War. Connie worked in the Maribyrnong munitions factory during the war manufacturing bullets.
Helen Annie McDonald
Corporal Helen Annie McDonald, a Gunditjmara woman from Colac, and her siblings were brought up in an orphanage in Geelong.
Mickey Lovett
Private Eugene ‘Mickey’ Lovett, a Gunditjmara man from Heywood, Victoria, served in the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in Korea from 1952 to 1953.
Graham Atkinson
Atkinson, a Dja Dja Wurrung Yorta Yorta man, was called up for National Service in Vietnam in 1968.
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