Patriotic Painter

This New South Wales artist with a proud military background describes himself as ‘fiercely Australian minded’. His patriotism shines through much of his work, and the way that he chooses to use it.

- Peter Moore OAM

The son of a scrap metal and bottle dealer, I was born at Leichhardt, Sydney, in 1936.

As a young man I was employed in various occupations including factory worker, salesperson and tram guard. Late in my teenage years, I hitch-hiked around parts of Australia including Victoria, South Australia and Queensland – working itinerantly in timber mills, on fishing boats, and in hotels as a barman.

I joined the Army in 1958. I served for 17 years. I was involved in the Malayan Emergency from 1951 to 1961. I went to Vietnam in 1966, serving in the Infantry and Catering Corps.

In 1984, I formed the Australian Vietnam Veterans Art Group in Sydney.

Prior to this, I had taken up painting and exhibited at various venues around Sydney including ‘Art in the Gardens’, the Commonwealth Bank, Martin Place, and Kings Cross streets and restaurants.