Clem Newchurch

with veteran Jeffrey Phillip McCormack

For VIETNAM - ONE IN, ALL IN I have created a tapestry-type weaving piece incorporating carved objects that relate to Uncle Jeff McCormack's war stories. I use only natural materials that I have sourced myself from my local land.

I decided to use a story from Uncle Jeff's interview that was more light-hearted than stories from the battlefront. Uncle Jeff is obviously an amazing soldier but what really stands out when talking with him is his humour and jovial, cheeky personality. Uncle Jeff's story tells of being in a training exercise at night and sneaking out, armed with a fake knife - a piece of wood - and proceeding to "get" as many of his opposing team as possible. He stole four sets of boots and two M60 machine guns, and finished the operation off by throwing a rock into a hole and yelling "grenade!'l Unfortunately for Uncle Jeff, the makeshift grenade hit his sergeant on the head, which got him "in a bit of shit".

I believe this story shows not only Uncle Jeff's skills as a warrior soldier but also his cheekiness. His storytelling brings a sense of light-heartedness to a volatile environment.

The idea of my piece is to replicate some of the equipment Uncle Jeff used in his covert training operation. I wanted to showcase some of his hidden abilities, which I believe have come from his Aboriginal culture. Replicating modern equipment using materials that would have been used traditionally, I believe, shows the strength and skill of our ancestors and how these skills haven't been lost, even with the impact of colonisation.

Aboriginal culture and knowledge have survived.

Clem Newchurch

Narungga/Kaurna/Kokatha peoples

Sergeant Jeffrey Phillip 'Sarge' McCormack

Ngarrindjeri/Peramangk peoples

Royal Australian Infantry Corps - 3rd Battalion A Company in Malaya

Jeff McCormak joined the Royal Australian Army in 1966 and was trained as an infantry soldier.

He served in the 3rd battalion in Malaya in 1973-1974. Malaya was meant to be a peace-keeping mission while the Vietnam War was still going, but the environment in Malaya was still very hostile.

Jeff became an instructor of recruit and promotion courses, and has worked in places like Larrakeyah Barracks Northern Territory, Army Recruit Training Centre Kapooka NSW, 2 Training Group in Ingleburn NSW and 4 Training Group in Adelaide. Jeff has trained well over 3000 soldiers over the years.