Amy Russ
A group of passionate photographers from the Nelson Camera Club are on a mission to ensure local veterans are never forgotten.
In collaboration with Nelson RSA president Barry Pont, the club has launched the ‘Lest We Forget’ project, a heartfelt initiative to capture portraits of those who have served, preserving their faces, stories, and medals for generations to come.
Led by club member Mary Lorier, the project began with a simple but powerful idea.
For Mary, it fulfils a long-held dream, one that grew in urgency as she realised how quickly New Zealand is losing its veterans.
“This is something I have been wanting to do for a long time,” says Mary.
“When I started talking to various people about it, it became more apparent just how important it was. Sadly, we are losing our veterans so quickly, and many families don’t have portraits to remember them by. Gone are the days where people sit for portraits, but for this project, people seem to be a little more willing. It’s been incredibly moving to see.
“Initially, we discussed the idea of holding an exhibition, but Barry was more interested in creating something lasting – supplying digital images to veterans’ families and archiving them, with the hope they might one day be included in the Auckland Cenotaph database. To our knowledge, nothing quite like this has been done before.”
The response to each portrait has been overwhelmingly positive, though Mary notes that not everyone finds it easy to see themselves through such an honest lens.
“I took a print of my favourite image to show one gentleman, but he hated it. He saw ‘a bald old git,’” she recalls.
“What I saw was a frail man wearing his medals with dignity and pride. As one of the few still with us, from his war, to me the image stood for all those who are no longer here to be photographed.”
One of those photographed is Paul Farrar, who served in the British Army as part of the Task Force that retook the Falkland Islands from Argentine forces in 1982, receiving the South Atlantic Medal, distinguished by a silver rosette on the ribbon.
In later years Rachel Simons began the Scarves for Falklands Veterans project, hand-knitting and crocheting scarves in the medal’s ribbon colours as a gesture of gratitude and remembrance for veterans worldwide.
“I’m honoured to have one and wear it proudly in memory of those who never returned home,” says Paul.
“As for the United Nations UNAMIR medal for Rwanda – I’ll never forget that tour. It was there I met my pen pal, who later became my wife.”
Ultimately, the project is about more than photographs.
“It’s about capturing the character in each face almost like a visual record, a catalogue of remembrance. Lest we forget.”
To date, the club has photographed around 60 veterans, representing a wide range of service backgrounds.
RSA president Barry Pont says the project holds deep meaning for the community.
“When Mary first contacted me, I gladly wanted to help,” he says.
“We’ve lost far too many members over the years, and this will help immensely with preserving our history. The club is doing this project out of the kindness of their hearts, but it holds incredible meaning for so many. Every one of these portraits tells a story.”
With the support of the Community Arts Council, the team will continue their work with two upcoming free portrait sessions at Greenmeadows Complex, in the Kōtuku Room, on 29 October and 5 November, from 3–5pm. The portrait sessions are open to all veterans across the entire region, who have served overseas, whether they are RSA members or not. Those interested can contact Barry on 027 5477562 to secure a booking.
