NAIDOC Exhibition

NAIDOC WEEK EXHIBITION
Serving Country
Centenary & Beyond

This year the Dunghutti Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery will acknowledge and showcase photographic portraits by Sydney photographer Sarah Barker of three Kinchela Boys whose fathers served in the armed forces for our country.
Private Cecil Robert Clayton joined the 2/13th Infantry Battalion (known as Devil’s Own) on 10 July 1940 and was discharged on 8 June 1944.
While Private Cecil was serving in the forces during the 1950’s the Government took away 6 of his 9 children in 1957. Buddy Clayton was sent to Kinchela Boys Home and Aunty Fay Clayton was sent to Cootamundra Girls Home.
Upon Cecil’s discharge he returned to the Riverina and while the non-Aboriginal soldiers he served with received benefits such as the Soldier Settlement Blocks, he did not. No returned Aboriginal soldiers were eligible for those benefits.
Uncle Cecil Bowden and Uncle Stan Harradine’s fathers both served in the armed forces. While Uncle Cecil Bowden’s father was away fighting for our country his children were taken away with Uncle Cecil ending up in Kinchela Boys Home.
NAIDOC week celebrations are held annually around the country during July to acknowledge and celebrate history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year celebrations will be held from the 7th – 11 July
The display of images together with artworks from aboriginal artists is presently on display in the gallery to acknowledge NAIDOC week from Sunday 7 July to Sunday 14 July.
The Gallery is situated inside the Visitor Information Centre, South Kempsey Park on the old Pacific Highway.
Gallery hours are from 10am – 4pm Tuesday to Sunday.
Be sure not to miss this opportunity to view and support your local Aboriginal Artists and Art Gallery.