In December of 2022 I was lucky enough to be invited to visit Aunty Meryl at Trunkeena in the Coorong.
While I was there Aunty Meryl and Aunty Christine Walker and I did a bit of work for Uncle Karno Walker’s Wirritjin Peggera:lin which included gathering more information for the Warrior Spirit part of this project.
Uncle Peter and Aunty Meryl were involved in the Black Anzac documentary which was about the Artwork and Murals created by an Artist called Hego honouring Black Anzac’s.
Hego’s work was inspired by the 1933 Poem “Black Anzac” by Cecil Fisher and the realisation that up until 2014, there was no formal recognition of First Nations Soldiers.
His medals he keeps hidden away from prying eyes
No one knows, no one sees the tears in his old black eyes
He’s been outcast just left by himself to die
Recognition at last Black ANZAC, hold your head highFisher, Cecil, 1933
As part of Hego’s art project, larger than life Murals of black Anzac’s were posted on buildings at Meningie in the Coorong, and one Mural of Private Alfred Cameron Junior was posted on a building in “The Block” in Redfern, Sydney, as part of the annual Redfern Colored Diggers March
Aunty Meryl had a lot of history preserved at Trunkeena about Private Alfred Cameron Junior which she wished me to share with all of you, much of which had never been seen before.
Below is a photo album containing war memorabilia service records about Private Alfred Cameron Junior, an Ancestor of Uncle Peter (her late husband) and Uncle Karno Walker.
