"VP Day" Oil on canvas
Today is the 80th Anniversary of the Victory by the Allied Forces in the Pacific.
I remember Mum telling me about how she could hear the naval battle in the Coral Sea as it was happening off North East Australia. Mum said it was frightening as she could feel the shock waves from the battle as she laid in her bed with her 4 little kids (my older siblings) and could feel the whole building vibrate ( especially the loovers) from the explosions during the battle, Mum was living at Rizzo's Flats in Innisfail at the time (May 1942).
This Naval battle was a turning point in WWII, as the US Navy halted the Japanese advance southwards, stopping the sea invasion of Port Moresby and therefore stopping an easy advance into Australia. This battle was also the first sea battle predominantly fought with Aircraft Carriers.
Of course we all know now the terror that bought the eventual Japanese surrender, and it is indeed a legacy that all humanity lives with all these years later.
I painted this 30 years ago in acknowledgement of that day.
The painting found a home at the Innisfail R.S.L (I am not sure if it still happens there in the foyer)
So this is my way of acknowledging what our parents and grandparents went through back then.
