An Image of Service

Image: Montage supplied by Martin Ryan

What makes an image iconic? Generally it is something that captures the essence of the topic, the history and the elements that share a story. This is definitely the case with Army photographer Gary Ramage’s 1999 image of former 4RAR(Cdo) Sgt., Martin Ryan in Timor.

Ramage’s skilfully framed image of Ryan shaking the hand of a young Timorese boy inspired Military Shop designers to draw the touching encounter for a special East Timor Peacekeeper badge that until last year Ryan himself was not aware of.  When he stumbled across the badge he was both surprised and proud.  Here’s what he sent Military Voice this month.

 “While visiting Melbourne about a year ago with my family I was pleasantly surprised during a visit to the Melbourne War Memorial to find a photo taken in Timor in 1999 had been used in one of the Military shops badges.

My sons wanted to visit the war memorial and on entering they ran straight to the gift shop insisting on a picking up souvenir each. Next thing I heard was; “Hey Dad this is you”.  I didn’t have my glasses on my but just told my son it was just an Aussie soldier on the Timor Badge. My wife looked at it and insisted it was.

I had a closer look and realised it was based on a photo Gary Ramage, an Army photographer, had taken in Suai in late 1999. My son has a copy in his room of the photo which was used on the front page of the Army paper to commemorate the operation.

Thank you Military shop for the pleasant surprise. Keep up the good work.

Ryan was attached to 3 Brigade HQ for OP Warden.