Awards for past and present

By PTE John Wellfare

* Submissions for the Air Force Heritage Awards – which close on June 3 – can explore recent events in Air Force history. This year’s categories are literature, art and photography. The awards attract cash prizes: art – first prize $3500, second $1500; literature – first $5000 (no second prize); photography – first $1500, second $500.

*

Malcolm Lancaster won the 1999 Heritage Award for Photography with this photo of Riverfire.

James Walker won second prize in the 2001 Heritage Award for Art for his painting, titled 77-52.

SUBMISSIONS for the Air Force Heritage Awards needn’t only look at the past; entrants can explore even the most recent moments in Air Force history.

The awards, which have been held annually since 1987, aim to encourage an interest in Air Force history and to generate a collection of art, literature and photography works based on the Service’s heritage.

This year’s awards have opened for submissions; entries must be in before June 3. Air Force History projects officer Michael Nelmes said entrants in the heritage awards, which are open to anyone, should consider the nature of the competition when producing their submission.

“It’s really for people to submit original works produced specifically for the awards,” he said. “In literature, to write a thesis of some sort covering an historical aspect of the Australian air force.

The art submissions would have to have some heritage aspect about them. In photography, it’s more for people to go out and take photographs with an historic theme, it’s not to submit old photos.

A photograph of current Air Force activities eventually becomes part of our heritage.

“I think it’s left up to people to interpret what they think an entry would be, keeping in mind that it is for heritage awards, which implies a feeling of history about it.”

He said the awards would be a great opportunity for talented people with an interest in history to have their abilities recognised publicly. “A lot of the winning artworks are displayed around Defence establishments.”

The winning literary entry is normally published and marketed as part of the Air Force Heritage Series and, on some occasions, the second place entry has also been published.

The awards also attract cash prizes of between $500 and $5000. Winners will be announced at the Air Force history conference, which is usually held in August.

Entries must be accompanied by an entry form brochure, which can be downloaded at http://www.raaf.gov.au/airpower/html/historical/2005_heritage_award_brochure.pdf, or email airpower@defence.gov.au, phone (02) 6266 1447 or write to Heritage Awards, Air Power Development Centre, Level 3, 205 Anketell St, Tuggeranong, ACT, 2900.

.