JOHN SCHNAARS

“Many of these old men and women had no rights in this country, but still put their hands up to fight”

John Schaars was born in Perth in 1946. He grew up in various towns in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt with his 13 siblings. Enlistment into the Australian Army has been a long standing commitment for John’s Family, with 12 family members serving in the armed forces. John served in the Vietnam War in 1968 as a Gunner Signaller with the 1st Forward Delivery Troop, 1st Armoured Regiment. Since 2001, John has been continuously involved in efforts recognise Australian veterans. In 2005, he founded Honouring Indigenous War Graves (HIWG), an organisation dedicated to ensuring Australia’s Aboriginal servicemen and women get the recognition and respect they deserve.

In the past, the military service of many Aboriginal people went unacknowledged because of their race. Through John’s work with HIWG, he has helped right this wrong by placing headstones on the graves of Aboriginal veterans. He has also organised acknowledgment ceremonies which recognised the role these men and women played in the protection of the nation. To date, over 177 veterans throughout Australia have been acknowledged with the assistance of John.

Eight years ago, John successfully campaigned for HIWG members to march in the ANZAC Day Parade. This gave them the opportunity to march on behalf of their loved ones, many of whom were not allowed to march in the parade during their lifetime.

In 2004, John was named by NAIDOC Senior Male Citizen of the year in recognition of the important contribution he has made to the community through his work with HIWG. In 2009 he was shortlisted for the Australian of the Year Award. John’s commitment to ensuring that Aboriginal war veterans receive the recognition they deserve has helped to heal many families

Gnarla Moort (Our People) Exhibition presented by The City of Perth, 2014.

Link: www.museumofperth.com.au/gnarla-moort

Photography: Eva Fernandez