Along with 20 indigenous men who enlisted to fight in World War I, there were many others fighting in all the conflicts in which Australia was involved.

In fact the region’s indigenous service personnel were recently recognised in an exhibition named In Memory at the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre.

The exhibition, which wrapped up last week, “detailed the proud and often little known history of Aboriginal people’s contribution to Australia’s military efforts,” according to Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash.

She said the photographic and multimedia display provided first-hand and family member’s accounts of the Shoalhaven’s Aboriginal service men and women’s involvement in conflicts from the Boer War right through to the recent conflict in Afghanistan.

“The In Memory exhibition represented a very moving and detailed account of Shoalhaven’s Aboriginal service men and women’s contribution to Australia’s defence forces,” Cr Gash said.

“Aboriginal people have made a very lasting and telling contribution to Australia’s defence forces dating back to the Boer War.

“However, many of the stories of our Aboriginal service men and women have failed to surface or receive the recognition they deserve.”

Cr Gash said the In Memory exhibition was collaboration between the Shoalhaven City Arts Centre and council’s community development unit, providing a powerful reminder of the past and the continuing legacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as part of Australia’s story.

She said local community members had generously shared their individual and family stories about past and present military service.