Collections
- Twelve Great Australian Stories
- The Victoria Cross
- Lost Diggers of Vignacourt
- Cross of Valour
- Sports Player Portraits
- Jeep Series
- Abstract Art
- Portraits
Twelve Great Australian Stories
This exhibition hopes elevate the status of the Wilkins name to become one of the truly great Australians in this country's short history.
The shaping of Australia’s national identity has involved explorers, writers, artists, sports stars, soldiers, politicians, business leaders and ordinary Australians with their wonderful stories of achievement and sacrifice.
From the recognised, the celebrated, the brave, the unknown and the visionary. Most of these names you will know, but do you really know about their amazing achievements?
Click on their portraits to learn more about them!
The Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest award for acts of bravery in wartime.
It was instituted in 1856 by Queen Victoria and made retrospective to 1854 to cover the period of the Crimean War. It is possible for any serving member of the armed forces to obtain this award.
The Victoria Cross is designed in the form of the Maltese Cross: in the centre of the medal is a lion guardant standing upon the Royal Crown. The words “For valour” are inscribed below.
The Victoria Cross is suspended from a crimson ribbon. On the reverse of the cross, the date of the act of bravery is inscribed, along with the name, rank, and unit of the recipient.
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Additional portraits
Videos
The Victoria Cross – Sydney Exhibition 00:50:17
The Victoria Cross – Melbourne Exhibition 01:43:02
The Lost Diggers of Vignacourt
Almost a century ago, a French photographer captured images of ANZAC Diggers in the village of Vignacourt, Northern France.
Just five years ago, a search by investigative reporter Ross Coulthart led to the discovery of thousands of these lost images on glass negative plates in a French farmhouse. The search for these images and their return to Australia was the subject of a television documentary and Ross Coulthart’s book “The Lost Diggers”.
“ It’s a treasure trove. It’s previously unknown, candid images of troops just out of the line. Men with fear and experiences of the battle written on their faces.”
– General Peter Cosgrove, AC MC, Former Chief of the Defence Force
Exhibitions
Melbourne – Crowe Horwath Melbourne
Ballarat – The George Hotel
Canberra – The Realm Hotel
Brisbane – Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Sydney – Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Adelaide – Adelaide Oval
Photo above: Lambis Englezos, Ross Coulthart, George Petrou and Dean Mighell.
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Cross of Valour
The Cross of Valour is awarded for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril.
It is the highest Australian Bravery Decoration. Anyone may nominate any other person for a bravery decoration and may be made posthumously. The nomination may be for a brave act by an Australian citizen in Australia or overseas. The Cross of Valour is a gold, straight-armed cross with diminishing rays between the arms.
It is ensigned with the Crown of St Edward. The obverse has the shield and crest of the · Commonwealth Coat of Arms surmounted by a Federation Star. A suspender bar is engraved with the words For Valour. The ribbon is magenta with a central blood-red band.
