A painting which captures an important aspect of the Second World War is now part of the Australian War Memorial’s collection with the help of our funding.

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The portrait depicts an Australian farmer who was rejected for war service in WWII so he could instead work on the land to contribute to maintaining the nation’s food supply.

With farming listed as one of the Reserved Occupations, John Thomas Joyce, from Mona Vale in NSW, was unable to enlist despite trying to sign up.

The painting, by Weaver Hawkins, was acquired by the Australian War Memorial with funding assistance from the National Cultural Heritage Account.

The work tells the lesser known story of the non-military war service that some men carried out during WWII and illustrates the importance of agriculture during wartime.

This painting is historically significant as the majority of Australian artists of the time painted soldiers on the front line, or women working on the home front.

It is a valuable addition to the Australian War Memorial’s art collection.

It is also an excellent example of modernism and avant-garde painting in Australia during WWII, depicting the unique friendship between artist and subject.

It was in fact a very personal work for the artist Weaver Hawkins, who was injured during the First World War, as John Joyce was his friend and neighbour.

The painting will be on display in the Australian War Memorial in the second half of 2023.