Unveiling the portrait of Arthur Blackburn

A bronze Active Military Service board and portrait of Arthur Blackburn VC will hang alongside one another in the halls of Parliament House. This recognition is the first of its kind in SA and acknowledges those who have been both in active military service and in service to others as a parliamentarian. It was a moving day to stand with members of the Blackburn family as we honoured Arthur Blackburn, the first South Australian to receive the Victoria Cross in WWI. Also in attendance was 102 (and a half!) year old Keith ‘Chook’ Fowler who shared some great stories about his time serving with Arthur Blackburn as a member of the 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion in WWII.