Art for future generations

By Pte Shannon Joyce

THE final installment in a series of paintings celebrating the Royal Australian Engineer was presented to 13 Fd Sqn by Spr Ian Coate, during the 89th Waterloo Dinner at the Royal Perth Yacht Club.

WO2 Brendan Sullivan said that the painting celebrated 100 years of the roles, responsibilities and units of the corps of engineers. “Ian took the time to recite his poem that accompanied ‘The Engineer’ before handing it over,” he said.

Spr Coate thanked WO1 Mick Ryan (rtd) and Capt Paul Reimers for assisting him in researching and commencing the sixmonth part-time project, and participating models from the squadron for their time.

“A large percentage of the time was taken up with research and ensuring the images I painted from were authentic,” Spr Coate said.

“I think it’s extremely important that these things are recorded not so much for this generation, but for coming generations so they can see how it was all done today.

“It was a good way of recording the history for future prosperity.”

He has completed six works for the squadron including Where Angels Fear to Tread, Boring, Watson Pier, Sappers at Play and Minefield.

Once framed, the painting will hang proudly in the squadron’s ORs’ Club, The Devil’s Inn.