Portraits of over 40 Otaki RSA WWII veterans who live in Otaki, Waikanae and Levin will be exhibited at Otaki Public Library from Thursday 7 August to Saturday 30 August.
The portraits, taken by photographer Annette Scullion, are part of a nationwide project spearheaded by the New Zealand Institute of Professional Photographers (NZIPP) to photograph New Zealand’s remaining WWII veterans.
The full collection will be gifted by the NZIPP to the Royal New Zealand RSA to create a digital archive, and there are also plans to exhibit the portraits in communities across New Zealand as part of WWII commemorations in 2015.
The project has involved over 100 NZIPP photographers working with local RSAs throughout New Zealand to photograph up to 3,000 WWII veterans.
Annette says that volunteering for the project has been an incredibly rewarding experience.
“The veterans I’ve photographed have shared such amazing stories with me; of courage, commitment, resilience and survival. There’s no doubt that WWII continues to affect people over 60 years on,” says Scullion.
RSA Chief Executive David Moger says it’s great to involve communities with local RSAs through a project such as this.
“Every portrait taken represents a moment shared, a story told and sometimes even family members brought together for the experience,” says David.
“Our thanks to NZIPP, and to the photographers, for using their time and skills to remember New Zealand’s veterans.”
The Otaki-Waikanae-Levin WWII veterans’ portraits can be viewed at the Otaki Public Library, from Thursday 7 August to Saturday 30 August 2014.